Croatia's dual-us logistics systems in Split and Rijeka as keyports for NATO operations in the Mediterranean

NATO partner Croatia: Innovative port development increases European military logistics

The modern security architecture of Europe is faced with fundamental changes that require innovative approaches in defense logistics. Croatia has established itself as a strategic partner of NATO and developed its ports Split and Rijeka into important dual-use logistics systems that can meet both civil and military requirements. This development marks a significant step in the European defense strategy and positions Croatia as a central logistical hub in the Mediterranean.

Suitable for:

• Dual-use logistics: The port in Rostock is a central logistics hub for the military logistics of NATO and Bundeswehr

What are dual-use logistics systems?

Dual-use logistics systems refer to infrastructures and transport networks that can be designed and used for both civilian and military purposes. In contrast to traditional dual-use goods that include individual products or technologies, dual-use logistics systems extend to entire supply systems and transport networks. This double usage enables synergies to create synergies between civilian business interests and military defense requirements and to increase both efficiency and resilience.

The strategic need for dual-use logistics in modern Europe results from the changed security situation. The modern logistics landscape of Europe must increase the efficiency and sustainability of civilian supply chains and at the same time meet the increased demands on military mobility in a changing geopolitical environment. In this context, the concept of dual-use logistics, especially in combined traffic Schiene-Straße, is gaining in importance.

Croatia's strategic position in the NATO alliance

Croatia has been a full member of NATO since April 2, 2009 and has thus achieved one of the most important strategic and foreign policy goals since the first free elections in 1990. With NATO membership, the Croatian managers combined the confidence that this would make Croatia more attractive for foreign investments in an economic area.

The Croatian armed forces are currently in a comprehensive process of conversion and modernization, which also includes the fulfillment of the NATO standards. To achieve this, a total of over 15 billion Kuna (around 2.1 billion euros) were invested in the military by 2015. Croatia is now aiming to reach the NATO two-person percentage until 2025 and to spend three percent of its gross domestic product for defense by 2030.

The modernization efforts include the procurement of 126 modern cycling tanks, the modernization of all remaining battle tanks, the procurement of modern fighter planes and helicopters as well as several ships and quick boats for the navy. Germany and Croatia have signed a declaration of intent to jointly procure the Leopard 2A8 combat tanks, which underlines the close cooperation between the two countries in the defense area.

The port of Split: naval base and civil traffic junction

Split occupies a key position in Croatia's dual-use strategy. The port has the naval base Lora, which acts as the headquarters of the Croatian Navy. Lora is a port in the northwestern part of Split in the Bay of Kaštela and is currently used as the naval base of the Croatian Navy. Located right next to the Brodosplit shipyard, it was an important naval base for the Yugoslav Marine and its headquarters.

The Croatian Navy has a personnel strength of 2,500 soldiers and, in addition to the Marine headquarters Lora in Split, has naval support points in Lastovo, Ploče, Pula, Šibenik and Vis. The Navy protects the sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia at the sea and has the sea fleetille, the coast guard, a naval fan fan taillon, a coastal monitoring battalion and the “Petar Kresimir IV” training center in Split.

International military cooperation is regularly shown in the port of Split. The Greek landing ship HS “Chios”, for example, visited the Croatian marine in July 2024 as part of the bilateral military cooperation between Croatia and Greece. Such visits strengthen relationships between marine and offer opportunities to exchange experiences and specialist knowledge in the field of naval operations.

Rijeka: Croatia's emerging logistics liner

The port of Rijeka is developing into one of the most important container covering spaces in the northern Adriatic and strives for the status as “First Port of Call”. With the development of the port Rijeka and the intermodal transport, the chance to position Croatia as a logistics hob in Southeast Europe.

The modernization of the Rijeka port comprises several ambitious projects. The new container terminal from APM Terminal wants to use truck completely digital and smartphone-supported. The container transport is growing fastest and has almost doubled in the past five years - from 200,102 container units (TEU) in 2015 to 356,068 TEU in 2021.

Rijeka has strategic importance through his position as the only port in the northern Adriatic with sufficient capacity for coping with increasing container quantities. At the Adriatic Gate container terminal there is still a capacity for 300,000 TEU additional annual envelope, which attracts shipping companies and rail operators. The first stage of the Zagreb Container terminal is to start operational operation with a 400 -meter -long quay and with at least 600,000 TEU annual capacity.

Suitable for:

• Croatian-hungarian cooperation in military logistics: integration into multinational logistics networks

NATO operations in the Mediterranean and the role of Croatia

Croatia plays an important role in NATO operations in the Mediterranean. Operation Sea Guardian is a Maritime security surgery of NATO in the Mediterranean, which was decided in July 2016 at the NATO summit in Warsaw. This operation is used for safety in the Mediterranean and to strengthen the Allianz south flank.

The historical development of NATO presence in Adriatic shows Croatia's longstanding integration. While the Operation Maritime Guard, a NATO Seenblockade in the Adriatic Sea during the Yugoslav wars, the region was already of strategic importance. The operation began on November 22, 1992 based on the UN Security Council Resolution 787.

Current challenges on the NATO south flank require increased attention. The Mediterranean is of particular importance as a geostrategic space, since Russia's war of international law on Ukraine, the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel as well as flight and illegal migration affect this region. The safety of traffic and supply routes in the Mediterranean is becoming more and more fragile and is of central importance for Germany and Europe.

Civil-military cooperation in logistics

The civil-military cooperation forms a basic pillar of successful dual-use logistics systems. This cooperation describes the interaction of state or non-state civilian organizations with military forces. Practicing civilian organizations and military units together is an essentially important building block for successful cooperation at a practical level.

Germany as a model shows how civil-military cooperation can work. The German Navy and the Directorate General Waterways and Shipping have signed an important agreement on civil-military cooperation, which regulates the cooperation for the control of civil sea traffic on German sea routes. This agreement is an important component of overall defensive ability and security.

Practical implementation takes place through the integration of private logistics service providers. The Rhenus Group has fully adopted the Croatian logistics company Log Adriatic and thus increases its presence in the Balkans. Log Adria offers sea freight and freight forwarding services at the headquarters in Rijeka and has a sea freight branch in Ploče as well as air freight locations in Zagreb and Belgrade.

Technological innovation and military mobility

Military Mobility as an EU Nato cooperation project aims to be able to lay troops and material across Europe faster. The Pesco project Military Mobility serves to simplify, standardize and accelerate procedures as well as the modernization of traffic infrastructure. Germany, the Netherlands and Poland work on a cross -border sample corridor for military traffic from west to the east.

Croatia's participation in Military Mobility is one of 26 participating countries of the Pesco project. The project enables faster relocation of troops and military material in Europe on the country, air and sea path. The practical implementation requires the answering of complex, often legal questions and its harmonization between the participating states.

Digitization and AI shape the future of military logistics. Modern military logistics go through a fundamental change, which is promoted by the principles and technologies of “Industry 4.0”. This change, known as “military logistics 4.0”, marks a departure from traditional, often reactive approaches to integrated, data -controlled and increasingly automated systems.

European defense logistics and Pesco projects

Pesco projects form the backbone of European defense integration. The constant structured cooperation comprises 25 EU member states that have agreed on 20 obligations. The Pesco project “Network of Loghubs in Europe and Support to Operations” aims to create a Europe-wide network of military logistics centers.

Germany as coordinator leads the LogHub network together with France and Cyprus. The log hubs enable central warehousing and laying of equipment or ammunition and also benefit from the state and alliance defense. The networked log hubs help to strengthen the EU's ability to act because decisions can be implemented faster.

Croatia's integration into these structures is gradually carried out. The Bundeswehr integrates parts of the Armed Forces of Croatia in its multinational logistics network. Croatian military people already take part in German-Hungarian exercises in which troops rehearse for troops. From 2025, active integration of Croatian units into the structured partnership in logistics (Spil) is possible.

Industrial cooperation and armaments cooperation

Croatia's armaments industry shows remarkable developments. The country still has an independent armaments industry from Yugoslav times, but obtains larger weapons systems from the USA, France and Germany. Brodosplit has strategically focused on the development of ships for security and defense purposes and initiated the project of an offshore patrol ship- the corvette up to 91.

German-Croatian cooperation is intensified. Rheinmetall and Dok-Ing from Croatia have signed a memorandum of understanding to found a joint venture. The agreement provides for the joint development and subsequent marketing of unmanned vehicles. A special feature of this partnership is the complete European origin and added value.

Technology transfer is systematic. Germany supports Croatia in the transfer of the armed forces from eastern to western technologies. The agreed ring exchange provides for the delivery of at least 50 Leopard 2 A8 fighter tanks from Germany to Croatia, while Ukraine will receive 30 Yugoslav battle tank of the type M-84 and 30 SchmoScherbanzer M-80 by the end of the year.

Suitable for:

• Dual-use logistics for Europe's security: the multinational structured partnership in Logistics (Spil)

EU million for dual-use projects: Croatia needs German recipes of success

Infrastructural challenges continue to exist. In order to achieve the goal of a logistics hub in Southeast Europe, the rail must also be modernized accordingly. The green transition and efforts for climate neutrality in mobility act as a driver for modernizing the rail in Croatia. Large railway projects, which are mainly financed from the cohesion fund and from the financial instrument CEF, are only progressing slowly.

Political obstacles can affect development. President Zoran Milanović partially blocks the sending of Croatian officers to NATO activities, which leads to political tensions. This attitude could have long -term consequences for Croatia's international position.

Financial investments are required. The EU dual-use funding supports projects with a double-use purpose in the Transe European transport network. Germany was able to raise funding of more than 296 million euros for dual-use projects for dual-use projects. Such investments are also necessary for Croatia to modernize its infrastructure accordingly.

Strategic importance for the NATO south flank

The NATO south flank gains strategic importance. Russia's increased presence in Syria, Libya and Algeria as well as China's growing influence on the African continent creates new challenges. NATO is faced with new types of threats on its south flank: state decay in some countries, a confident Russia and growing Chinese presence.

Croatia's contribution to the safety of the southern flank takes place by participating in NATO operations. The country participates in the Sea Guardian operation and provides ships and staff for maritime security operations. The Croatian Navy has modern steering weapons-speed boats from the Helsinki class and mining shipping ships, which can be used for both military and civilian purposes.

Regional stability is promoted by Croatian initiatives. From 2025, Croatia supports the logistics forces in the German-managed EU Battlegroup with a company. This cooperation shows the close connection between German and Croatian defense planning and strengthens the European security architecture.

Suitable for:

• Duplication of NATO support skills by private sector and dual-use logistics in logistics, replenishment and transportation

Croatia as a dual-use logistics hub

The future of Croatian dual-use logistics systems shows promising developments. Split and Rijeka develop into indispensable nodes in European defense logistics. The combination of modern ports, strategic location and close NATO integration creates ideal prerequisites for the implementation of real dual-use capacities.

Croatia's vision of a logistics hub in Southeast Europe becomes reality through continuous investments in infrastructure and technology. The successful integration of civil and military logistics requirements creates synergies that benefit both the economic development and defense ability.

The strategic partnership with Germany and other NATO allies forms the foundation for this development. Common procurement projects, technology transfer and operational cooperation create reliable structures that have grown to the challenges of the 21st century.

Croatia's dual-us logistics systems in Split and Rijeka not only represent a national success story, but also an important building block in the European security architecture. They show an example of how modern defense logistics can create both economic benefits and strategic security through intelligent integration of civil and military capacities.

Hub for security and defense - Image: Xpert.digital

The hub for security and defense offers well-founded advice and current information in order to effectively support companies and organizations in strengthening their role in European security and defense policy. In close connection to the SME Connect working group, he promotes small and medium -sized companies (SMEs) in particular that want to further expand their innovative strength and competitiveness in the field of defense. As a central point of contact, the hub creates a decisive bridge between SME and European defense strategy.

Suitable for:

• The Working Group Defense of the SME Connect - Strengthening SMEs in European defense

Markus Becker

I would be happy to serve as your personal advisor.

Head of Business Development

Chairman SME Connect Defense Working Group

LinkedIn

Konrad Wolfenstein

I would be happy to serve as your personal advisor.

contact me under Wolfenstein ∂ Xpert.digital

call me under +49 89 674 804 (Munich)

LinkedIn