On December 11, 2024, Director of RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation, H.E. Ambassador Constantin-Mihail Grigorie, accompanied by Rear Admiral Predrag Stipanović, Deputy Director of RACVIAC, met with the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant general Tihomir Kundid. This meeting underscored the vital role Croatia has played in the establishment and continued success of RACVIAC, reinforcing the long-standing partnership between RACVIAC and Croatia.
During the meeting the Director of RACVIAC expressed profound gratitude to Croatia for its pivotal role in establishing, alongside Germany, RACVIAC in 2000, and highlighted Croatia’s unwavering support as both a founding Member and host nation. The Director emphasized Croatia’s continued contributions, including financial support, infrastructure, and the deployment of seconded personnel, which remain essential for RACVIAC operational success.
The meeting included a comprehensive briefing on RACVIAC main Programme of Activities for 2025 and ongoing plans to strengthen collaboration with its partners. The Director highlighted Croatian Armed Forces’ critical role in supporting various RACVIAC initiatives, such as the Gender Training of Trainers (GToT) Course Programme and NATO-certified Mobile Training Teams, showcasing Croatia’s active involvement in regional and international security efforts.
In addition, Ambassador Grigorie said that RACVIAC is investing a lot of efforts into strengthening partnerships with academic institutions in the region. These collaborations are instrumental for advancing RACVIAC projects. The Director shared updates on preparations for the “Conference on Resilience and Protection of Critical Infrastructure,” scheduled for spring 2025, and sought the continued support of the Croatian Armed Forces in organizing this key event. RACVIAC partners in this activity will be the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF Global) and Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre (E-ARC) from Romania.
Additionally, Ambassador Grigorie updated LTG Kundid on his efforts to raise RACVIAC visibility to garner increased support and to increase the number of the members of the RACVIAC family, as well as the Centre’s personnel, considering the growing number of RACVIAC activities and projects.
The discussion also looked at the state of RACVIAC infrastructure and looking for ways to improve it.
Lieutenant General Kundid commended RACVIAC efforts and reiterated the Croatian Armed Forces’ dedication to supporting RACVIAC mission, emphasizing Croatia’s role as a committed partner in fostering regional security and cooperation. He accepted with pleasure the invitation to pay a visit to RACVIAC extended by RACVIAC Director.
Both Ambassador Grigorie and Lieutenant General Kundid reaffirmed the importance of Croatia’s steadfast support and active participation in RACVIAC initiatives, underscoring their shared commitment to promoting peace, stability, and security in South East Europe.
