Croatia–United States relations
The foreign, diplomatic, economic, and political relations between Croatia and the United States were established on April 7, 1992 following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. After Croatia's debut as an independent state in 1996, the U.S. established the country as its most important political connection to Southeast Europe. Modern relations are considered to be warm and friendly, with stalwart bilateral collaboration. The Croatian diaspora in the U.S. is estimated to be around 500,000 which, in part, informs the foreign policy of Croatia. The two nations have strong connectivity through tourism, immigration, foreign aid, and economic mutualism.
Croatia |
United States |
---|---|
Diplomatic mission | |
Croatian Embassy, Washington D.C. | United States Embassy in Zagreb |
Envoy | |
Pjer Šimunović | Nathalie Rayes |
Croatia and the U.S. are close military allies and share a robust bilateral military-industrial complex. Their closeness has led to the U.S. housing regional intelligence agencies, such as the CIA and NSA, in Croatia. Both are members of NATO, leveraging Croatia's aerospace and defense manufacturing and U.S. military operations to advance multilateral initiatives. After the 2022 Tu-141 drone crash in Zagreb, the U.S. dispatched two F-16 fighter jets in a show of military strength for Croatia. U.S. interests in Croatia are centered on the state's stabilizing influence in the region and extending the global reach of jointly-held Western ideals.
Both nations are part of the United Nations (UN), Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization. Croatia has an embassy in Washington, D.C., with general consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City. The U.S. has an embassy in Zagreb.