India’s Ambassador to Croatia, Arun Goel, said Croatia expressed strong solidarity with India following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, endorsing New Delhi’s restrained and strategic response through Operation Sindoor. The envoy also emphasized the immense potential for growth in bilateral trade, strategic partnerships, and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
In an interview with ANI ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Croatia, Ambassador Goel highlighted that Croatians were deeply moved by the attack and quickly conveyed their support.
“I got several messages from Croatian citizens expressing shock and solidarity. Croatia, having itself experienced terrorism and extremism, stands firmly with India. People here endorse India’s approach. They are reliable partners,” said Goel.
He noted that India’s response to the attack—marked by strategic restraint—was widely appreciated in Croatia.
Goel underscored the opportunities for Indo-Croatian collaboration in areas such as space-based applications, digital infrastructure, telecom, and healthcare. He pointed out that India, in the broader Indo-Pacific context, offers alternatives to a one-sided global dependency model.
“Currently, the world is locked into a single-choice scenario. India presents multiple options across different domains, which is what countries like Croatia are looking for,” he added.
On the economic front, Goel said that trade between India and Croatia remains modest but has vast untapped potential.
“Croatian exports are worth $27 billion, but exports to India stand at just $70 million. Imports from India account for only 0.67% of Croatia’s total imports. The scope for growth is enormous,” he explained.
He emphasized that India’s growing economic strength and the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations could be significantly bolstered by partnerships with EU member states like Croatia.
Culturally, Goel noted that Indian companies and migrant workers in Croatia have had positive experiences, while Croatian businesses operating in India are also seeing success.
“There is a strong people-to-people connection, with shared appreciation for Indian culture, spiritualism, and values,” he said.
PM Modi’s visit on June 18, at the invitation of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia, and is expected to be a historic milestone in elevating the bilateral relationship across trade, diplomacy, and cultural ties.
