capabilities of the Armed Forces will be further developed, inter alia, through various types of international training, courses and exercises. The commitments of the Armed Forces resulting from the new Security and Defense architecture of the Republic of Croatia governed by the Defense Act that envisages assistance provided to Allied countries, declaring their forces for Multinational Response Forces, joining the multinational military structures and engagement in Peace Support Operations, Crisis Response Operations, Humanitarian Operations, and other activities abroad. Participation in the UN Peace Support Missions will remain one of the priorities of the Croatian contribution to maintaining international peace and security. With its own war experience, the Republic of Croatia has acquired expertise in managing UN Peace Missions that have become an important mechanism that can stop international conflicts. In that context, the Republic of Croatia has gained additional credibility and globally applicable substantial knowledge. It has also assumed responsibility to apply its excellence in implementation of the international peace activities and to pass on practical experiences. Participation in the UN Peace Missions and operations, in addition to maintaining world order based on obeying the international law, is also useful in the context of strengthening strategic partnerships with key partners. NATO membership obligates the Republic of Croatia to give full contribution to the Collective Defense of the Allies under Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty according to its capabilities, and to engage its forces to actively participate in the execution of other tasks in accordance with the NATO Strategic Concept, including the activi- ties related to Crisis Management and the contribution to international peace and security. The Armed Forces have significant obligations that are a result of declaring their forces for NATO Response Forces (NRF), improved military capabilities and interoperability through participation in the implementation of concepts used to develop mechanisms for mutual cooperation on building, maintaining and strengthening Defense Capabilities. Capability Targets that the Republic of Croatia assumed in the NATO Defense Planning Process play a crucial role as direct indicators of the dedication to the development of the Alliance, and their implementation will form a backbone of the Armed Forces development. The European Union strives to structure its Security and Defense dimension more firmly through a series of initiatives and activities within Common Security and Defense Policy. Therefore, the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union implies a new commitment to the development of the Armed Forces capabilities. The Republic of Croatia will continue to give contribution to the Peace Support Operations within the EU framework and the EU Battle Group (EU BG), and participate in the Pooling and Sharing initiative and in the activities of the European Defense Agency (EDA). As a full-fledged member, the Republic of Croatia has taken over the commitments of potential employment of the Armed Forces in providing assistance to the EU member states regarding their defense and their employment in accordance with the Solidarity Clause. Common affiliation of the majority of NATO and EU member states, common values and strategic interests present a new challenge to the Republic of Croatia, its Defense Sector and the Armed Forces. 11