During an official visit to Israel, Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić met with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation between Croatia and Israel in the defense industry. This meeting comes after Croatian President Zoran Milanović expressed his disapproval of the military's participation in such collaborations, notably regarding Israeli advanced defense technologies. Anušić affirmed that the focus would be on developing collaboration rather than ignoring it despite the President's earlier statements.

A key topic in their discussions was the Israeli Trophy active protection system, which has been incorporated into the German Leopard 2A8 tanks, a crucial aspect of Croatia's military modernization strategy. The Croatian military is set to equip 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks as part of a significant modernization effort, raising questions about the political implications of enhancing military ties with Israel amid varying views from leadership.

Anušić's push for stronger defense ties indicates a commitment to bolstering Croatia's military capabilities through international partnerships, particularly in advanced technology exchange. This move could both enhance Croatia's defense posture and signal a shift in defense policy aimed at integrating Israel's technological advancements while navigating domestic political discourses on military involvement abroad.