Defence Minister Mario Banozic on Friday met with members of the 8th Croatian Army contingent who had recently returned from NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Poland, saying that they had done a "fantastic job" and that he was "proud of them."

The defence minister said that Croatian soldiers were always highly appreciated in international missions and operations. Our allies and partners have expressed great respect for the involvement of the 8th Croatian Contingent and their knowledge and skills, he added.

“We are showing a high level of knowledge and resourcefulness. I am proud of you all. In this demanding activity, you showed the ability, motivation and readiness of the Croatian soldier. You really did a fantastic job,” Banozic said.

The 80-strong 8th Contingent participated in the Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Poland from 5 January 2021 to 24 January 2022. They took part in military exercises and joint activities with other nations within their Battle Group, as well as in sporting events.