Secretary Lazaro Promotes Ties with Croatia in Historic First Visit of Croatian Foreign Minister to Philippines

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro meets with Croatian Foreign Minister H.E. Gordan Grlić Radman during his official visit to the Philippines (Photo credits to DFA-OPD Clark Galang). 

MANILA 13 October 2025 — Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro held a bilateral meeting today with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman at the Department of Foreign Affairs.  

Minister Radman’s visit marks the first ever visit of a Croatian Foreign Minister to the Philippines, following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993. 

Discussions between Secretary Lazaro and Foreign Minister Radman during their meeting focused on the key areas of PH-Croatia relations, which are defense cooperation, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties. Croatia is home to 16,000 Filipinos.

The two top diplomats also exchanged views on important issues of today such as developments in the South China Sea, Indo-Pacific, Europe, Western Balkans, and the Middle East, as well as cooperation in ASEAN and the European Union.

The Philippines and Croatia have also explored through the years possible maritime, science and technology, education, and tourism cooperation via a series of political consultations, the  most recent one in 2024.

During his visit, Foreign Minister Radman will also call on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., and meet with the Secretaries of National Defense and Migrant Workers and with the Speaker of the House and Committee on Foreign Affairs Representatives. END