Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (Croatia)

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Croatian: Načelnik Glavnog stožera Oružanih snaga Republike Hrvatske) is the principal head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Croatia, which is a joint body of the Armed Forces established within Ministry of Defence responsible for preparation, command and use of the Armed Forces. The Chief of the General Staff is appointed by the commander-in-chief, President of Croatia, to whom Chief of the General Staff is the principal military advisor. Chief of the General Staff is appointed for a period of four years and cannot be reappointed.

As head of the General Staff, Chief of the General Staff has authority to fully command the Armed Forces on the basis of orders of the President of Croatia, decisions of the Minister of Defence and on the basis of provisions that law entitles him. Chief of the General staff is responsible to the President and to the Minister of Defence for the implementation of orders and shall simultaneously inform them of the acts that refer to the use of the Armed Forces.

One of the independent actions that Chief of the General Staff may undertake is to order a temporary standby of the part of the Armed Forces of Croatia in the event of the danger of disasters, major accidents and accidents, of which he shall immediately inform President of the Republic, as well as Minister of Defence.

The incumbent Chief of the General Staff is Colonel general Tihomir Kundid, since 8 March 2024.