India and Croatia share friendly relations rooted in historical ties from the days of former Yugoslavia, with diplomatic relations formally established on July 9, 1992, after Croatia’s independence. Below is a concise overview of their bilateral ties:

Yugoslavia Era: Croatia played a significant role in India-Yugoslavia relations, accounting for over two-thirds of trade, including India's purchase of Croatian ships in the 1970s and 1980s. Marshal Tito, a Croat, and India's Prime Minister Nehru, pioneers of the Non-Aligned Movement, fostered close ties.

Recognition and Diplomacy: India recognized Croatia in May 1992. Croatia opened its embassy in New Delhi in 1995, while India established its mission in Zagreb in 1996, upgraded to ambassadorial level in 1998.

Political and Diplomatic Engagements

High-Level Visits:

June 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Croatia, the first by an Indian PM, marked a milestone. Modi and Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovi? held talks in Zagreb, focusing on defense, trade, technology, and culture, with multiple agreements signed.

September 2021: India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Croatia, the first such visit, discussing cooperation in pharmaceuticals, digital, and infrastructure sectors.

March 2023: Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grli? Radman visited India for the Raisina Dialogue, signing a defense cooperation MoU with Jaishankar.

November 2021: PM Modi met PM Plenkovi? on the sidelines of COP26 in Glasgow.

Foreign Office Consultations (FOC): The 11th FOC was held in New Delhi on April 30, 2024, reviewing bilateral ties and discussing trade, defense, science, technology, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

Croatia's Support: Croatia backs India's bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat and maintains a non-interventionist stance on issues like Jammu and Kashmir.

Economic and Trade Relations

Trade: Bilateral trade in 2023 was USD 337.68 million, with steady growth. Key sectors include pharmaceuticals, IT, engineering, and hospitality.

Agreements:

Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (1994, updated 2017).

Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (2001).

Maritime Transport Agreement (1997).

Investments: Indian companies see Croatia as a gateway to the EU, with investments in pharmaceuticals, IT, and hospitality. Croatian firms operate in India, notably in railways.

Startup Bridge (2021): Fosters collaboration in AI, green technology, and robotics.

Sagarmala Project: India invited Croatian companies to participate in port modernization and coastal development.

Defense Cooperation

MoU (2023): Signed during Radman's visit to India, focusing on defense collaboration.

2025 Plans: Modi's visit announced a long-term Defense Cooperation Plan, emphasizing joint training, military exchanges, and defense production.

Cultural and People-to-People Ties

Cultural Agreements: Include cooperation in culture, science, technology, education, and sports (1999), and a cultural exchange program (2018).

Hindi Chair: Established at the University of Zagreb (2012, extended to 2030), reflecting Croatia's interest in Indian culture. The Indology department has existed for over 60 years.

Yoga and Tourism: Yoga is popular in Croatia, with International Yoga Day celebrated enthusiastically. Discussions on air connectivity aim to boost tourism.

Events: The Indian Embassy in Zagreb organizes cultural events like the Rathayatra festival and Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.

Strategic and Multilateral Cooperation

Shared Values: Both nations emphasize democracy, rule of law, and global peace, opposing terrorism and advocating dialogue for conflict resolution.

Indo-Pacific and Global Issues: Common positions on Indo-Pacific, Afghanistan, and counter-terrorism.

India-EU Relations: Croatia supports stronger India-EU ties, including a comprehensive free trade agreement.

Space and Technology: India offered to share space technology expertise with Croatia.

Recent Developments

Modi's 2025 Visit Outcomes:

Agreements on defense, trade, and cultural exchanges.

Plans for a Mobility Agreement to facilitate movement.

Enhanced cooperation in semiconductors, renewable energy, and cybersecurity.

Ambassadorial Engagements: India's Ambassador Arun Goel, appointed in October 2024, has actively promoted cultural and tourism ties, meeting Croatian officials and participating in events like International Yoga Day 2025 preparations.

Strategic Importance

Croatia's Adriatic ports (Rijeka, Split, Ploce) and EU/NATO membership make it a gateway to Europe for India. Its support in international forums and shared democratic values strengthen the partnership. Modi's visit underscored Croatia's role in India's Eastern European strategy.

In summary, India-Croatia relations are dynamic, with growing cooperation in defense, trade, technology, and culture, bolstered by high-level engagements and shared global perspectives.