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Croatia–Montenegro relations

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Croatian-Montenegrin relations
Map indicating locations of Croatia and Montenegro

Croatia
Montenegro
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Croatia in Podgorica, MontenegroEmbassy of Montenegro in Zagreb, Croatia

Foreign relations between Croatia and Montenegro are bound together by shared history, intellectual development, and common geography. Both states are members of the Council of Europe. Montenegro has been a candidate to join the European Union since 2012, a pursuit supported by Croatia, who has been an EU member since 2013. Their diplomatic relations have been largely amicable, with strong economic collaboration. Croatia and Montenegro are military allies through NATO. Limited regional geopolitical issues remain, with Montenegro's historic ties to Serbia complicating bilateral relations with Croatia.[1][2]

History

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In late 2002, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro adopted an interim agreement to settle the disputed Prevlaka peninsula at the entrance of the Bay of Kotor in Croatia's favour, allowing the withdrawal of the UN monitoring mission.[3] This agreement has applied to Montenegro since its independence, who agreed to settle future possible disputes in the International Court of Justice.[3] In 2000, Montenegrin president Milo Đukanović issued a formal apology to the Croatian government for the shelling of Dubrovnik in 1991, which Croatia accepted as part of broader warming of relations.[2]

Croatia recognized the independence of Montenegro on June 12, 2006, establishing diplomatic relations on July 7, 2006. Both Croatia and Montenegro have supported the 2008 independence of Kosovo from Serbia, jointly recognizing it as an independent country.[4][5] Relations between the Croatia and Montenegro are promoted through the Croatian-Montenegrin Friendship Society "Croatica-Montenegrina".[6] Montenegrin and Croatian, official languages of Montenegro and Croatia respectively, are mutually intelligible standard varieties of the Serbo-Croatian language. During the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe, Croatia supplied medical equipment to Montenegro in a form of medical diplomacy.[7]

In June 2024, the Montenegrin parliament adopted a resolution recognizing the World War II-era Jasenovac concentration camp as a genocidal operation. Led by pro-Serbia political parties in Montenegro, it was seen as a counter-response to Montenegro's support for the United Nations resolution on the Serbian-led Srebrenica genocide that was passed in May.[8][9] Croatia sanctioned three Montenegrin politicians that year and temporarily excluded Montenegro from a Croatian defense pact with Albania and Kosovo in 2025.[10][11] The European Commission noted Montenegro's strained relations with Croatia as a challenge for Montenegrin accession into the EU.[12] In exchange for Croatian support of Montenegrin accession, Croatia has requested resolution on key issues.[3] This includes formal delineation of the Prevlaka border, a return of the Jadran ship to the Croatian Navy, formal acknowledgment of the Morinj detention camp, and educational equality for the Croatian minority in Montenegro.[3] The Croatian government has cautioned against Serbian and Russian influence in Montenegrin politics, calling it disruptive to otherwise amicable bilateral relations.[3][13]

Embassies

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Montenegro-Croatia relations in danger over training ship". AP News. 2018-09-16. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  2. ^ a b "Montenegro Asking Forgiveness From Croatia". The New York Times. June 25, 2000. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Wankiewicz, Paulina (December 13, 2024). "Croatia sets conditions for Montenegro's accession to the EU". Center for Eastern Studies. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  4. ^ Taylor, Alice (2023-04-06). "Montenegro won't withdraw recognition of Kosovo as the EU calls for calm". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  5. ^ admin (2023-10-11). "President of Croatia: At the UN Session, I said that Kosovo should be recognized". Sarajevo Times. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  6. ^ "Ponovno otkrivena Duklja!". Glas Slavonije (in Croatian). 2008-12-05. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011.
  7. ^ "Solidarity of EU member states: Montenegro receives two new packages of medical equipment | EEAS". www.eeas.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  8. ^ Wax, Eddy; Starcevic, Seb (1 July 2024). "Holocaust vote throws wrench in Montenegro's EU bid". Politico.
  9. ^ "Montenegro adopted the Resolution on Genocide in Jasenovac, Dachau and Mauthausen Camps". Sarajevo Times. 28 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Grlić Radman: By adopting the resolution, Montenegro showed two faces, doing someone's job in action, and we all know whose". vijesti.me. 1 July 2024.
  11. ^ Brey, Thomas (April 11, 2025). "Western Balkans peace threatened by new military alliances? – DW – 04/11/2025". dw.com. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  12. ^ Mirkovic, Milika (July 1, 2024). "Strained Relations Between Montenegro and Croatia and other issues". China-CEE. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  13. ^ Higgins, Andrew (2024-09-09). "A Tug Between Russia and Europe Divides a Tiny Balkan Nation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
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