Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Croatia marks a pivotal moment in India’s engagement with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), signaling a renewed focus on regions beyond Western Europe. Croatia, strategically located on the Adriatic Sea coastline, offers India a vital gateway to the European continent and aligns with New Delhi’s broader geopolitical and economic interests.
Croatia’s ports—Rijeka, Split, and Ploče—are key nodes in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), placing the country at a crucial intersection of European trade routes. This makes Croatia a natural partner in India’s ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which envisions a seamless logistics and trade chain linking India with Europe via the Mediterranean. Croatia’s inclusion in this corridor would enhance India’s access to the 12-country Three Seas Initiative (3SI)—a bloc focused on boosting connectivity and energy security in the region.
PM Modi’s visit also comes at a time when Croatia is increasingly important within the European Union and NATO, having joined the two organizations in 2013 and 2009 respectively. By strengthening ties with Zagreb, India is positioning itself as a credible partner not only in trade but also in strategic and political cooperation across Europe’s southern and eastern flanks. This is especially pertinent given China’s growing presence in the Balkans through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India’s outreach offers an alternative model of partnership based on mutual respect and sustainable development.
Economically, the visit highlights the steady growth in India-Croatia bilateral trade, which rose from $199.45 million in 2017 to $337.68 million in 2023, as per data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. India exports pharmaceuticals, chemicals, garments, and machinery to Croatia, while Croatian exports to India include precision instruments, timber, rubber products, and chemical goods. Strengthening economic links in areas such as IT, infrastructure, green energy, and pharmaceuticals can be mutually beneficial.
Further adding to this cultural affinity, Croatian contributions to Indian history include their role in constructing the Church of Sao Braz in Goa during the 16th century. Indian cultural traditions such as yoga and classical dance continue to find enthusiastic audiences in Croatian universities.
Modi’s visit thus signifies more than a diplomatic courtesy—it is a strategic recalibration. PM Modi has made all this possible after the relationship between the two countries were practically broken, thanks to the legacy of Indian diplomats who abused power during the Congress era. Here’s why.
Aneil Mathrani – The Scandulous Indian Diplomat Who Fractured India-Croatia Ties
Aneil Mathrani, a former Indian diplomat, left such a damaging legacy during his ambassadorship to Croatia that the post remained vacant for a period following his exit. His tenure from 29 December 2004 to 2 December 2005 was marred by scandal and misconduct so severe that it has reportedly become a cautionary case study at civil services training institutes like LBSNAA on diplomatic impropriety.
Mathrani, became embroiled in controversy due to a series of personal and professional misconducts during his tenure in Zagreb. Duska Bilic, a former housekeeper at his residence, accused him of inappropriate behaviour and non-payment of wages. She recounted his mistreatment of domestic staff, including an Indian maid left without basic necessities, and expressed disbelief at his conduct, especially considering his representation of a country like India.
Mathrani’s tenure was marked by misuse of public funds, unprofessionalism, and diplomatic blunders. Whistleblowers claim he spent more time holidaying along the Dalmatian coast and engaging in personal affairs than fulfilling his official duties. Allegedly, he sought to cover his tracks after the release of the Volcker Report by fabricating invitations from Croatian officials to justify his unofficial travels. Notably, Mathrani was also implicated alongside Kunwar Natwar Singh in the infamous Oil-for-Food scandal.
He was also reported to have sought perks from local tourism offices and denied visas without justification to Croatian business executives unless their CEOs personally intervened.
Diplomatically, Mathrani made several missteps. He offended the Croatian Speaker of Parliament by arriving late for a condolence meeting and attended a contentious “Victory Day” event, boycotted by most of the diplomatic corps due to its association with war crimes. His frequent unauthorized absences from post, including a secretive trip to New York, reportedly strained his relationship with his political mentor, Natwar Singh.
One infamous incident that encapsulates the disregard he showed for diplomatic norms occurred during the formal presentation of his credentials to the Croatian President. Departing from established protocol—where a diplomat is usually accompanied by their spouse—Mathrani appeared with a woman widely reported to be an ‘escort’ he was involved with at the time. To date, he remains the only Indian ambassador known to have breached such decorum, turning a solemn diplomatic tradition into a public embarrassment.
Why and how the trip to Croatia by PM @narendramodi was imp – Repairing the broken relations – Read about Volcker report links, intrigue and much more here – https://t.co/WG3Hd4MQE7 – And then we have idiots who complain about Modiji not knowing English pic.twitter.com/wi5m1CRfPY
— Vijay (@centerofright) June 19, 2025
Nothing Short Of Extraordinary
With a relationship strained due to such an embarassing past, what PM Modi has achieved with his recent trip is nothing short of amazing. While the intelligent needn’t be told this, it becomes necessary to people who are hell bent on nitpicking over PM Modi’s English skills.
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