Slovenia and Croatia's declarations of independence marked a significant turning point in the disintegration of Yugoslavia, which had been held together since the end of World War I by a delicate balance of power among its diverse ethnic groups. The Yugoslav federation was composed of six republics: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Serbia. In the late 1980s, rising nationalist sentiments, economic downturn, and the weakening authority of the federal government led to increasing calls for autonomy among the republics. Slovenia and Croatia were at the forefront of movements towards independence.

Both republics held referendums in the spring of 1991, where citizens overwhelmingly voted in favor of secession from Yugoslavia. On June 25, these votes translated into formal declarations of independence, with Slovenia and Croatia asserting their right to self-determination. While Slovenia's transition to independence was relatively swift, involving minimal conflict, Croatia faced significant opposition from the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), loyal to the federal government dominated by Serbia. This escalated into a violent conflict, known as the Croatian War of Independence, in the subsequent months.

The international community was initially hesitant to recognize the newly declared states, with significant concerns over regional stability. Nonetheless, the European Community and later the United States began to acknowledge both Slovenia and Croatia as independent nations in the face of ongoing violence. The conflict between Croatia and Serbia only deepened, leading to a protracted and bloody civil war that would last for several years, further fracturing former Yugoslavia and setting the stage for additional conflicts in the Balkans.