Marcos welcomes Croatian foreign minister in first official visit to PH
Photo: Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova Republike Hrvatske (Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia)/Facebook
President Marcos welcomed Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman, marking the first official visit to the Philippines by a Croatian foreign minister.
“Welcome to the Philippines, especially at this very important time,” the President told the Croatian envoy’s courtesy call at Malacañan on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
“We celebrate our long relationship between our two countries, and now you have the opening of your office here in the Philippines,” he added.
The President described the visit as “a new chapter” in Philippine-Croatian relations, underscoring the two countries’ growing partnership in trade, defense, and labor.
Minister Radman thanked President Marcos and the Filipino people for the warm welcome extended to his delegation, saying Croatia values its partnership with the Philippines based on “shared values and mutual respect for international law.”
In a Facebook post, Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said the meeting at the Palace reaffirmed the two countries’ “commitment to dialogue, stability, and a broader agenda of economic and people-to-people cooperation.”
During his visit from Oct. 12 to 14, Radman met with key Philippine officials, including the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, and Migrant Workers, as well as members of Congress, to explore deeper cooperation across multiple fronts.
The trip also coincided with the opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Manila — a milestone that President Marcos said would “further strengthen diplomatic and people-to-people ties” between the two nations.
At the Ministry of Migrant Workers, Radman and State Secretary Ivan Vidiš inaugurated the Philippines–Croatia Friendship Week together with Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.
Their discussions centered on ethical recruitment practices, workers’ welfare, and the next steps under the bilateral framework, ensuring fair and safe employment opportunities for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Croatia.
In a separate meeting with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Radman explored potential cooperation in the defense industry, including technology exchange, security dialogue, and Croatia’s upcoming international defense exhibitions.
The Croatian minister’s Manila engagements also included meetings with European Union Ambassador Mariamassimo Santoro and Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles J. Brown, reaffirming Croatia’s support for broader regional dialogue and international cooperation.
The Philippines and Croatia formally established diplomatic relations on Feb. 25, 1993.