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Zagreb - Strong transatlantic ties and a commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty have enabled long-term security for the citizens of Allied countries, Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said at a NATO Parliamentary Summit in Washington on Tuesday.
The summit is being held in the U.S. Congress to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Western military alliance. Before the summit, Jandroković attended a formal reception organised by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, and the head of the U.S. Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Michael Turner.
In his address, Jandroković recalled the 75 years since the signing of the Washington Treaty, which established NATO. "Article 5 of that treaty says that an attack on one Ally is an attack on all. Commitment to this obligation, as well as strong transatlantic ties, has enabled the long-term security of the citizens of Allied countries."
NATO's success is defined not by what it opposes, but by what it stands for - democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, he said. "Commitment to these values, which many today seek to undermine, must continue to guide politicians in making decisions and formulating appropriate policies."
Jandroković also said the European security order was significantly altered, with authoritarian regimes challenging the rule-based international order on the rise around the world .
"In Ukraine, we continue to witness the unrelenting brutality of Russian attacks, sparing no one. In such a critical global moment, NATO must act decisively. Therefore, this week's summits in Washington must send a message of firm, concrete, and enduring support for Ukraine."
Jandroković also recalled Croatia's 15 years of NATO membership and its struggle for freedom and independence in the 1990s. "That's why we wish Ukraine the same victory and just peace for its people. Croatia will continue to assist, especially in areas where it has specific experience from the Homeland War and its aftermath, such as demining, veteran rehabilitation, and the prosecution of war crimes."
Regarding the Western Balkans, Jandroković said "special attention must be paid to this region today, as pro-Russian political forces and proxy regimes clearly aim to make it a space for potential new crises and conflicts."
He cited cyber and hybrid threats, as well as the use of energy as a weapon, as real dangers. "Decisive action is needed against them to reduce the space for Russian destabilising activities."
In conclusion, he underlined the importance of NATO's adaptability, warning that the world is becoming increasingly dangerous and unpredictable.