Given its timeless antiquity, India has been a fount of wisdom and knowledge and a melting pot of cultures. In its long, illustrious civilisational journey, India attracted people from far and wide and engaged extensively with different societies. But centuries of invasions and colonisation disrupted the cultural and social fabric of this self-sustaining, prosperous civilisation. However, even after independence, internalising a sense of inferiority, attempting to fit into the Western rubric, Indian leadership undervalued its rich cultural heritage.

The vestige of colonial hangover lingeringly impacted its worldview. Since assuming power in 2014, PM Modi has reshaped foreign policy with Indian values and energised it. Wearing his identity proudly on his sleeves, PM Modi boosted Indian pride. This reimagination of foreign relations is mirrored in India’s new confidence to forge relationships on the strength of its civilisational connection as well.

Adeptly deploying soft power and economic influence, India is now widening engagement with the comity of nations. PM Modi’s landmark visit to Croatia rightly fits into the new paradigm of his transformational agenda of foreign policy.

After wrapping official visits to Cyprus and Canada, in the last leg of a three-nation trip, PM Modi headed for Croatia on June 18, the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Balkan nation. Extending a rousing welcome, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic received PM Modi at the airport. Other than shared values of democracy, pluralism and the rule of law, marked cultural resonance sets India-Croatian relations on a unique pedestal.

After establishing diplomatic ties in 1992, countries witnessed several high-level leadership visits including President Ramnath Kovind’s state visit in 2019 and EAM Jaishankar’s trip in 2021. PM Modi met his Croatian counterpart on the sidelines of COP26 at Glasgow in 2023.

PM Modi’s pioneering visit to Croatia comes months after the first-ever European Union College of Commissioners visit to India, which included a delegate from Croatia. In 2023, during Croatian Foreign Minister Radman’s visit to India to attend the Raisina Dialogue, countries exchanged an MoU on defence cooperation. Taking this forward, PM Modi advocated a ‘Defence Cooperation Plan’ for long-term cooperation in defence sector including seeking opportunities for defence collaboration, training and military exchanges.

In the period of the 1970s and 1980s, India had strong trade relations with Yugoslavia and even purchased ships from Yugoslavia. Croatia, which was then part of Yugoslavia, accounted for two-thirds of the trade. Keen on strengthening cooperation in ship building, reinvoking the past ties, PM Modi invited Croatian companies to explore opportunities in port modernisation, coastal-zone development and participate in India’s multi-modal connectivity initiative, SAGARMALA.

Croatia is an integral part of the European Union’s meticulously planned Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Strategically located on the Adriatic Sea, the Croatian ports of Rijeka, Split and Ploce have been the vital nodes for European exports. Situated at the intersection of key European transport corridors, Croatia is a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe.

Croatia is also part of the 12-nation Three Sea Initiative (TSI) that aims to promote economic cooperation in energy, transport and communication infrastructure. Comprising nations lying along the north-south axis from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic Sea to the Black Sea, the initiative fosters interconnectedness. Croatia hosted the initiative’s inaugural summit at Dubrovnik in 2016.

Initially enthused by the prospect of trans-continental connectivity opportunities of China’s BRI, Croatia invited Beijing to the inaugural summit of TSI.  However, Croatia’s enthusiasm soon dissipated, giving way to caution and scepticism. Given India’s democratic credentials and transparent functioning, IMEC can emerge as a pragmatic choice for Croatia. Countries like Italy, France, Greece, Germany and the EU are weighing in to be part of IMEC. Considering the maritime traditions, leaders acknowledged the need for improving connectivity by expanding cooperation in ports, shipping domains, including through IMEC.

Recognising the importance of supply chain resilience, leaders affirmed to boost bilateral trade worth $515 million, through greater business-to-business collaboration, joint ventures and investment partnerships and innovation.

To foster collaboration and innovation partnerships, countries plan to strengthen the India-Croatia Startup Bridge launched in December 2021. PM Modi suggested that Croatia leverage the skilled talent of India and expedite the mobility partnership agreement.

To inject fresh impetus into the bilateral partnership, countries exchanged four MoUs- cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors; cooperation in science and technology; a cultural exchange program; and an MOU on Hindi chair at the University of Zagreb. India has offered to share space expertise with Croatia.

Countries are exploring opportunities for cooperation in digitalisation, AI, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, tourism, hospitality, health care, cybersecurity and machine learning.

Being part of NATO and as the youngest member of the EU, Croatia wields immense influence way beyond its size. Its position in the European institutions can be valuable in terms of advocating Indian interests during decision-making. Croatia can play an important role in furthering the early conclusion of the India-EU FTA and advancing the India-EU strategic partnership.  

Yoga and Ayurveda are very popular in Croatia. The Department of Indology of the University of Zagreb, functioning for the past 60 years with a dedicated Sanskrit Chair, has been doing commendable work in Indology. Traditional Ratha Yatra has been carried out in Zagreb downtown since 2016. The Inter-University Centre of Dubrovnik was the venue for the 7^th International Vedic Workshop. India and Croatia have close cultural links dating back several centuries.

Burgeoning interest in Indic-Oriented societies like The Art of Living, ISKCON, Bhakti Marga and Yoga in Daily Life are bringing both nations closer. Underscoring the close cultural connections PM Plenkovic has gifted the first printed Sanskrit grammar book in 1790 written by Ivan Filip Vezdin to PM Modi.

Quick succession of conflicts, intense contestations across different theatres and reigning uncertainty are forcing countries to rapidly reconfigure partnerships. Trump’s tariff regime, threat of supply chain disruptions have compelled the EU to seek new markets, investment opportunities and derisk from China. Complementing Europe’s attempts to diversify trade, India is engaging in intensive deliberations on market access and tariffs. Having finalised the FTA with the UK, India and the EU have fast-tracked the FTA negotiations. Raring to conclude FTA with the EU by the end of this year, EAM Jaishankar has embarked on a 7-day visit to France and Belgium. India is pulling out all stops to strengthen ties with the EU and operationalise IMEC for seamless connectivity.

In the wake of Operation Sindoor, PM Modi’s trip to Europe to attend the Nordic Summit and travel to Croatia was cancelled. PM Modi’s landmark visit to Croatia is an attempt to resurrect the cultural and trade ties, which languished due to the political apathy and were roiled by scandals of the previous leadership. The visit marks an important milestone in India’s European engagement.