The political neutrality of the Croatian Army is one of the most important issues that has been at the center of the conflict between the Office of the President and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for some time now. Orsat Miljenić, the head of the Office of the President, has publicly stated several times that the Government is trying to manipulate the Croatian Army, which poses a serious problem in a democratic system. In his latest statements, Miljenić clearly indicated that the army should not be used as a tool in political conflicts, warning that the army must focus on fulfilling its constitutional obligations and not on promoting political agendas.

According to Miljenić, the current Government, led by the HDZ, shows a tendency to interfere in military decisions that are under the jurisdiction of the President according to the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia. This practice undermines public trust in the army's neutrality and creates an atmosphere of political manipulation. This problem has particularly come to light during discussions about Croatia's participation in the NATO mission NSATU, when Defense Minister Ivan Anušić requested that the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia attend a meeting of the parliamentary Defense Committee. Miljenić emphasized that the chief is not a political figure and should not be used in political debates, adding that the army must remain neutral and focused on its fundamental tasks.

Politicization of the army in conflict with the Constitution

The Chief of the General Staff, according to Miljenić, has a clearly defined role in the constitutional system. The army follows the orders of the President of the Republic, who is the supreme commander according to the Constitution, and his duty is to care for the defense of the state and the preservation of its territorial integrity. The role of the Government in military-defense matters is limited to making political decisions such as funding and organizing the military system, but only within the framework that is clearly defined by laws and the Constitution.

Miljenić has repeatedly accused Minister Anušić of attempting to politicize the army, calling his practice unacceptable and dangerous for democracy. He pointed out that any attempt to use the army to justify political decisions is unacceptable and that the minister and the Government should take responsibility for their political decisions, rather than hiding behind military figures. “If the Government takes responsibility for decisions regarding NATO missions, then it must be done by politicians, not the Chief of the General Staff,” said Miljenić.

Conflicts within the defense system

The attacks from the Government have also drawn a response from the Ministry of Defense, which accused the President of the Republic of politicizing the army. The Ministry stated in several press releases that Milanović, while he was the Prime Minister, reduced investments in the army and that he now uses military forces as a means for political conflicts with the current Government. They also addressed the accusations that the president interfered with the functioning of military units by insisting on the army's participation in various ceremonial events, which the Ministry of Defense considers an inappropriate waste of military resources.

Although the Ministry of Defense rejects accusations of the army being misused for political purposes, public perception increasingly points to a serious problem in the relationship between the two key institutions. Soldiers have reportedly found themselves in awkward positions between two opposing sides multiple times, and the issue of withholding allowances for soldiers who supported the president at official events has been particularly problematic. Minister Anušić has been accused of using his ministerial powers to limit the support that soldiers provide to the President of the Republic, which has further strained relations between the Government and the Office of the President.

International role of Croatia in NATO

Despite internal conflicts, Croatia remains an important partner within the NATO alliance. President Milanović has emphasized multiple times that Croatia must fulfill its obligations to the alliance, but he also stressed that the army must be used in accordance with national interests. According to him, Croatia has increased the presence of its soldiers in NATO missions on the border with Russia, demonstrating loyalty to the alliance, but at the same time, he refused to send Croatian soldiers to missions that do not align with Croatian interests, such as the NATO mission in Ukraine. Milanović has made it clear that Ukraine is not a NATO member and therefore Croatia is not obligated to participate in that mission.

In the context of the European ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia has also faced controversies, as it was not allowed to participate despite it being a mission initiated by NATO. According to Miljenić, this decision represents an injustice towards Croatia, and he has repeatedly called on the EU and NATO to reconsider their stance on Croatia's participation in missions in the region. He pointed out that Croatia has the right to be part of these missions because they are directly related to the security of the region in which Croatia plays a key role.

These conflicts regarding the role of the Croatian army and its participation in international missions show how complex the relationship is between different branches of government, but also how important it is to keep military forces neutral in political conflicts. The Croatian army must remain focused on its primary mission – the defense of the country's sovereignty and the protection of its citizens, while politicians must take responsibility for their decisions and not use the army as a means to achieve their political goals.