Galbraith on the US and Croatia in the 1990s
Former diplomats Peter Galbraith and Ronald Neitzke testify about Washington's divisions, the Cold War, and the 'consulate without a state' on Zrinjevac.
Former diplomats Peter Galbraith and Ronald Neitzke testify about Washington's divisions, the Cold War, and the 'consulate without a state' on Zrinjevac.
When American diplomat Ronald Neitzke landed in Zagreb with his family in July 1992, he was greeted by a sight that foreshadowed the challenges of his new mission. "The airport was eerily quiet, almost deserted," Neitzke recalled. Although the United States had recognized Croatia in April of that year, he took over an office on Zrinjevac that was still formally subordinate to the embassy in Belgrade. Neitzke himself described it as a "consulate without a state."
Neitzke, who arrived as chargé d'affaires, quickly realized there were no clear directives from Washington. The White House hesitated to take any decisive action, while Congress and the State Department were divided, burdened by Cold War politics and perceptions. Former diplomat Peter Galbraith confirms this assessment: "There was no will to take sides."
On the ground, the situation was dramatic. Croatia was at war and sheltering more than half a million refugees and displaced persons, while increasingly dire news came from neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite this, international support was lacking, and the American consulate operated in a diplomatic vacuum, still formally part of a structure headquartered in Belgrade.
Meanwhile, a completely different story about the US administration unfolds in Washington. President Donald Trump has ordered contractors to redo the helipad on the South Lawn of the White House, which costs between $5 and $6 million. The project is fully funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin.
According to the Washington Post, Trump was dissatisfied because the lawn's natural 20-degree slope makes the granite landing pad not look perfectly level against the horizon. Workers have already begun dismantling parts of the project, including the 100-foot-wide presidential seal. "You land on granite, and it's the hardest stone," Trump said.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle defends the project, noting that the White House has desperately needed a proper helipad for years to protect the South Lawn grass from "the fierce exhaust of the incredible Marine One." The new VH-92A Patriot helicopters were delivered in 2024, but Trump avoids using them because their downward-facing exhaust vents scorch the grass. He added that the White House under Trump's leadership will only continue to look better. Work is expected to be completed by September 2026, ahead of the announced state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The helipad project is just one in a series of construction projects changing the White House's appearance during Trump's second term. Among them is a planned $300 million ballroom that would replace the East Wing.
