Croatia Allocates Nearly €14 Million for US-Made Arms for Ukraine via NATO Mechanism

Croatia has approved a new financial contribution to Ukraine’s military support, allocating nearly €14 million for the procurement of US-made weapons through NATO’s coordinated assistance framework. The decision marks Zagreb’s formal entry into NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, designed to accelerate and streamline the delivery of military equipment to Kyiv based on battlefield needs.

According to the press service of the Croatian government, the funds will be channelled through the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and used specifically to support arms purchases for Ukraine under the PURL mechanism, which pools allied financial contributions and converts them into rapid procurement of urgently required systems.

Defence budget reshuffle

The contribution to Ukraine forms part of a broader reallocation within Croatia’s 2025 state budget, under which the government approved €235.7 million for major defence procurement programmes. This funding will cover advance payments for several high-profile acquisitions aimed at modernising the Croatian Armed Forces.

Key programmes include the purchase of CAESAR Mk2 wheeled self-propelled howitzers with associated systems and equipment, as well as the acquisition of Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, full-mission simulators, and long-term logistical support packages featuring extended warranties. Together, these projects represent one of the most significant single-year defence investment packages in Croatia’s recent history.

Joining a growing coalition

By joining PURL, Croatia aligns itself with a growing group of NATO allies using the mechanism to support Ukraine without directly transferring equipment from their own inventories. Earlier, Romania confirmed a €50 million contribution to the initiative, while Portugal has also signalled its readiness to commit a similar amount.

NATO’s PURL framework is increasingly seen as a pragmatic solution for countries seeking to support Ukraine while simultaneously rebuilding or modernising their own forces. For smaller and mid-sized allies such as Croatia, the approach allows financial contributions to be translated into operational effects on the battlefield without undermining national readiness.

Strategic signal

Zagreb’s decision sends a clear political and strategic signal: Croatia intends to remain an active contributor to Ukraine’s defence while accelerating its own military modernisation in line with NATO standards. As the war continues to reshape European defence planning, Croatia’s dual-track approach—investing at home while funding arms for Ukraine abroad—reflects a broader shift among allies toward long-term, structured support rather than ad-hoc assistance.