Croatia is a Central European country at the crossroads of Pannonian Plain, Southeast Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital (and largest city) is Zagreb. Croatia borders with Slovenia and Hungary to the north, Serbia to the northeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the east, and Montenegro to the far southeast. Its southern and western flanks border the Adriatic Sea, and it also shares a sea border with Italy in the Gulf of Trieste.

Croatia is a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, CEFTA, the World Trade Organization, the Council of Europe and is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-09 term. The country is also a candidate for membership of the European Union and a NATO acceding member. Croatia is expected to formally join NATO in April 2009, despite some delay caused by a minor Slovenian party, making it the second former Yugoslav nation to join the military alliance following Slovenia. Additionally, Croatia is also a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean upon its establishment in 2008.