Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anusic announced on September 23 that all preparations are in place for the reintroduction of mandatory military service from January 1, 2025. However, a final political decision is still pending.

Anusic made the announcement shortly after Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic announced the return of mandatory military service in Croatia’s neighbour. Officials in Zagreb have also been discussing military service for months, amid an increase in tensions in the Balkans since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago. 

"The political decision will be made in the parliament, in the conversation with the prime minister and in the conversation with the president of the country. When that political decision is defined … we will start from January 1 [2025],” Anusic told reporters in Bjelovar, referring to discussions within the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), a government statement said. 

Anusic confirmed that the Ministry of Defence has met all the prerequisites for the reintroduction of compulsory service, stating that three facilities are already prepared to accommodate future soldiers. These locations include Požega, Sinj and Knin.

The minister estimated that between 17,000 and 18,000 young Croatian men, aged 18 and above, will be called to serve for two months annually, while emphasising that conscientious objection remains an option. He also noted that the cost of basic military education is expected to be under €5mn per generation.

The reintroduction of mandatory service has been a topic of public discussion in Croatia for some time, with Anusic one of the plan's most vocal supporters.

However, the proposal faces opposition. Croatian President Zoran Milanović, a member of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), has made it clear that any reinstatement of compulsory service must involve discussions and agreements with him in his capacity as commander-in-chief.