Strategic and Cultural Ties with Croatia

Analysts have pointed out that this visit offers significant potential to elevate India-Croatia ties to a new strategic level. With bilateral trade reaching nearly USD 300 million, and Indian investments in Croatia amounting to USD 48 million, both countries are exploring deeper cooperation across areas such as innovation, defence, shipping, science and technology, and workforce mobility.

India and Croatia also maintain strong diplomatic and cultural ties, with India being well known in Croatia for centuries. Historical links include 16th-century Croatian missionaries in Goa and the construction of the Church of Sao Braz. These connections now serve as the cultural bedrock of renewed political and economic engagement.

During earlier interactions at COP26 in 2021 and the virtual India-EU Leaders’ Meeting the same year, PM Modi and PM Plenkovic discussed strengthening ties. The visit further builds on these conversations with high-level discussions expected to result in bilateral agreements.

President Ramnath Kovind’s 2019 state visit to Croatia was a diplomatic milestone as he was conferred Croatia’s highest civilian honour—‘The Grand Order of the King of Tomislav’.