State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told the press the US applauded the news that Gotovina was arrested in the Canaries.
Ereli said the US congratulated the Croatian and Spanish authorities, as well as the UN tribunal in The Hague, on the efforts that led to the arrest.
The spokesman said it was important for countries in Southeast Europe to meet their commitments from UN Security Council resolutions and towards the Hague tribunal in order to become full and accepted members of the Euro-Atlantic community.
Ereli said the arrest was evidently a big step forward to NATO membership for Croatia and that it was in Croatia's best interest. He added the US saw it as a crucial step towards reconciliation in the region.