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News in Brief

Hungarian troops stationed in Iraq will continue to carry out their mission

Jan 07, 2020

The defense ministry said their experts will continue to analyze the situation with a view to guaranteeing the security of Hungarian soldiers.

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Hungarian government to double number of soldiers patrolling the borders

Jan 06, 2020

Szilárd Németh said Hungarian soldiers had been patrolling the borders with police officers since 2015 and will continue to do so.

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President Áder visits Hungarian troops in Kosovo

Dec 11, 2019

President János Áder has visited Hungarian troops stationed in Kosovo, marking the 20th anniversary of Hungary’s involvement in NATO’s peacekeeping mission in the country.

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FM: Hungary will increase number of troops serving in NATO missions by a third

Nov 21, 2019

The foreign minister revealed that Hungary will be raising its total number of soldiers serving in NATO missions from 499 to 669.

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New military commands to be established in Hungary

Oct 28, 2019

Following a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels, Defense Minister Tibor Benkő revealed that Hungary is in the process of establishing several different military commands in the country.

Blog

Hungary hosts international military exercise focused on responding to illegal migration – still one of Europe’s gravest threats

Oct 18, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

Members of the Hungarian police and armed forces were accompanied by hundreds of foreign participants for the “Cooperative Security 2019” military exercise at two locations in rural Hungary. The goal? Strengthen cooperation to help keep the peace in countries from which people are forced to flee, and protect and preserve our own homeland.

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Hungary hosts military exercises aimed at tackling migrant crisis

Oct 17, 2019

Tibor Benkő said illegal migration continues to be one of the biggest threats facing Europe. This is proven by the number of countries taking part in the Cooperative Security 19 (COOPSEC19) exercise, he added.

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Hungarian Armed Forces set up regional special operation command

Oct 09, 2019

Defense Minister Tibor Benkő said the R-SOCC will be tasked with ensuring that troops serving in central European countries maintain peace.

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Airbus helicopters performing test flights for Hungarian army

Sep 04, 2019

The first two Airbus light helicopters commissioned by the Hungarian army are currently performing test flights at the manufacturer’s Donauwörth base in Germany.

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Hungary to purchase US anti-aircraft missiles

Aug 29, 2019

The US State Department has authorized the sale of 180 AIM–120C-7 AMRAAM anti-aircraft missiles to Hungary.

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DM: Hungary is in need of a modern army capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century

Jul 05, 2019

The Defense Minister has said Hungary is in need of a modern army capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century and guaranteeing the country’s security.

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Military personnel to help protect southern border

Jun 03, 2019

Hungary’s Chief Security Advisor has said the military personnel taking part in the defense of the southern border will enable the reallocation of various police units from the border.

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Hungary takes delivery of new German tanks

May 17, 2019

Hungary took delivery of its first Leopard tanks and artillery piece ordered from Germany, to be showcased at next week’s Day of National Defense on May 21st

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Hungary to purchase missile defense system

May 06, 2019

Defence Minister Tibor Benkő said Hungary is currently preparing a tender for the purchase of a missile defense system

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Hungarian army receives new EOD equipment

Apr 25, 2019

Defense Minister Tibor Benkő said EOD duties remain an important part of the army’s tasks, given the large number of unexploded ordnance still being found in the country

Blog

Happy birthday, NATO! Hungary and the U.S. celebrate by signing DCA

Apr 08, 2019 - Zoltán Kovács

The world’s most successful military alliance just turned 70, and that means we have another important anniversary to celebrate. It’s been 20 years since Hungary, along with the Czech Republic and Poland, joined NATO and secured our places in the alliance, a great moment in our long-desired return to Europe and the Euro-Atlantic community.

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Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia create regional military alliance

Feb 15, 2019

Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia have signed a letter of intent to create a Regional Special Operations Component Command (R-SOCC) in Hungary

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Soldiers and police officers receive pay rises

Jan 03, 2019

Hungarian soldiers and police officers' wages have risen as part of a program to increase their salaries by 50 percent

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Hungary's defense ministry signs deal with Airbus for new air defense system

Dec 21, 2018

The ministry said the Hungarian army will be able to protect important facilities and the country’s population against airborne objects, including aircraft, helicopters, missiles and drones

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FM: Hungary is ready to take on a larger role in NATO missions

Oct 26, 2018

Minister Szijjártó said that the government would soon start negotiations concerning the future role of 77 Hungarian troops that have recently returned from the United Nations’ Cyprus mission

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Hungarians will always honor the memory of soldiers fallen in their country, says official

Aug 27, 2018

State Secretary of Defence Szilárd Németh said it is a special duty of the Hungarian government to preserve the memory of war heroes and ensure that the fallen soldiers should not remain buried in unmarked graves

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Brigadier General Sándor: NATO is satisfied with the Hungarian army’s special operational groups

Aug 13, 2018

Hungarian peacekeepers have a new role in Kosovo to be a reserve force which can continuously be deployed, anywhere in the region

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Hungary’s military development scheme dubbed Zrínyi 2026 is on schedule, says defense minister

Jul 30, 2018

Tibor Benkő said the Hungarian Armed Forces is capable of implementing the most modern technologies across all ranks of the military

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NATO summit: PM Orbán says that Hungary is one of the world’s safest countries

Jul 13, 2018

Hungary supports the US president’s assertion that European countries should channel more reasonable levels of funding towards their armed forces and security needs, the prime minister said

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Hungary to contribute more to NATO’s defense efforts

Jul 12, 2018

The foreign minister said Hungary has embarked on a comprehensive military reform with a view to producing a regionally competitive army

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Hungary supports all initiatives that boost the EU’s defense capacity

Jun 26, 2018

The Minister of Defense said in respect of national sovereingty, the joint funding of anti-terrorism operations and stabilisation, and avoiding “duplicate operations” with NATO are priorities in defense cooperation

News in Brief Prime Minister

PM Orbán says Hungary’s defense is “not the task of NATO or the European Union but our task”

May 17, 2018

During the inauguration of the new Chief of the General Staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces in Parliament on Wednesday, the prime minister said that a strong Hungary cannot exist without a strong military

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General Benkő: A strong army is necessary to ensure the security of the Hungarian people

May 16, 2018

General Benkő said he accepted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s invitation to become minister of Defence because he feels the support of the government, the prime minister and his soldiers

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Hungary cannot be a sovereign state without combat-worthy Hungarian defence forces, says minister

Feb 23, 2018

“In order to be able to preserve our Hungarian identity and Hungary, we must build the Hungarian Defence Forces with active care, attention and constructive creativity," István Simicskó said

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Hungary’s defense forces plan to buy 40 new helicopters

Jan 15, 2018

The defense and armed forces development scheme, dubbed Zrínyi 2026, and the increased budget will enable the acquisition of state-of-the-art technologies to ensure that the army maintains 21st century capabilities

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Hungary aims to have 30,000 soldiers on active duty by 2026

Jan 12, 2018

An increased budget will be available for a larger staff force, and the defense budget will reach 2 percent of GDP, or 1 trillion HUF, by 2024

Blog

Security and defense among top priorities makes Hungary one of the world’s safest countries

Jan 05, 2018 - Zoltán Kovács

In a Europe that has experienced acts of terrorism with increasing frequency in recent years, Hungary stands out as an island of security at the heart of the continent. The reasons are many, but important among them is the political will to keep it like that. In addition to the border fence securing an otherwise vulnerable stretch of the European Union’s southeastern border, the Orbán Government bolstered defense forces through the Zrinyi 2026 program.

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Hungary allocates 100 billion HUF to improve military capabilities

Jan 03, 2018

Hungary’s government aims to raise the annual defense budget, which currently amounts to 428 billion HUF, to NATO’s target of 2 percent of GDP by 2024

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Hungary to resume training of military pilots and air traffic controllers

Dec 22, 2017

The government is pushing forward with the development of the Hungarian Defence Forces. The first phase of the Zrínyi 2026 National Defence and Armed Forces Development Program has already been launched

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Hungary to increase its military reserves to 20,000 by 2026

Oct 02, 2017

Hungary’s military have diminished since the 1989-1990 political change. However, it will improve with the implementation of the Zrínyi 2026 scheme

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Hungary to modernize air force

Aug 16, 2017

Four Zlin light training and reconnaissance aircraft have already been purchased to replace outdated Yak-52 training aircraft, and new aircraft have been commissioned

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Russia‘s Vertolety Rossii overhauls Hungary's Mi-17 helicopters

Jul 26, 2017

Hungary's Ministry of Defense has revealed that their Mi-17 helicopters were officially put back in service on Tuesday

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Hungary organizes war games for training and exercise programs

Jul 13, 2017

President János Áder said the war games would contribute to more effective international operations in which Hungary participates in a way that further enhances its prestige

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Hungarian army contingent arrives in Estonia while 166 migrants apprehended within a week

Jul 04, 2017

Personnel mainly from the Hungarian Defence Forces 25th Klapka György Infantry Brigade (Tata) were transported by a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft to their new Estonian barracks on Sunday

Blog

NATO is shifting gears and Hungary has a plan to stay apace

May 31, 2017 - Zoltán Kovács

Late last week, leaders of the 28 members of NATO gathered in Brussels to send, in the words of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, a strong message of the unity of the transatlantic alliance and its commitment to collective security. NATO finds itself in an increasingly challenging environment due to the rise of complex security threats that require responsive capabilities. Grappling with terrorism, migration, cybercrime and more, every one of the member states must step up its game.

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István Simicskó attends GLOBSEC security policy conference

Apr 15, 2016

Minister of Defense István Simicskó is this year's GLOBSEC 2016 security policy conference in Bratislava, April 15. The main topics of the three-day event are the migrant crisis, the crisis in the Middle East, the Islamic State and the war in Syria as well as the effects of Russia’s intervention in Ukraine and Syria and the lead-up to the NATO Summit in Warsaw.

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The CIA has no information on threats against Hungary

Apr 06, 2016

On Wednesday morning, Bakondi György, Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, told public television channel M1 that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has no information on specific terrorist threats to Hungary.

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With illegal crossings on the rise, reinforcements to the Hungary-Serbia border underway

Apr 04, 2016

Due to the increased number of illegal border violations in the last few days, in response to a request from the Ministry of the Interior, the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) have started the further physical reinforcement of the temporary border barrier in certain sectors along the Hungarian–Serbian border. In order to finish the work as soon as possible, more HDF units were deployed into the area at the weekend.

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With increased threat level in Europe, government seeks agreement on counter-terrorism planning

Apr 04, 2016

A five-party consultation was held on Friday at the Ministry of Interior regarding the Government’s counter-terrorism action plan which will be debated by the Cabinet on Monday, and in the wake of this debate, there will be another consultation with the parliamentary parties. After the Friday consultation, Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács said: there were no fundamental disagreements on professional issues, and an agreement may well be reached.

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Hungary is taking the terrorism threat seriously

Apr 04, 2016

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has confirmed that the Hungarian government is taking the threat of terrorism seriously, and that it has enacted the necessary measures. In an interview given to the public media in Washington on Friday, the Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction that Hungary is regarded as advanced from a nuclear energy point of view, and that its safety system is deemed to be outstanding.

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Hungary boosts security measures in wake of attacks in Brussels

Mar 24, 2016

Following Wednesday morning’s meeting of the Operations Unit, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Hungarian M1 television that “Hungary is maintaining all the current security measures at its borders, or raising them by one level”.

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Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér announces increase of terror alert to level II

Mar 22, 2016

Following an assessment of the terrorist attacks committed in Brussels on Tuesday morning, Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér announced the introduction of a Level II terror alert.

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Protection still needed for the EU’s borders

Mar 22, 2016

On Tuesday György Bakondi, chief security advisor to the Prime Minister, told public television channel M1 that, as migrants are changing their routes into Europe, it is still necessary to protect the EU’s borders.

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Hungary’s Borders are Safe

Mar 16, 2016

At a conference of Hungarian local governments, Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér said that Hungary’s borders are safe. Mayors attending the conference organised by the Association of Hungarian Cities with County Rank (MJVSZ) accepted a political statement against mandatory resettlement quotas.

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Hungarian Government Declares State of Emergency Due to Mass Migration

Mar 09, 2016

“The Government has declared a nationwide state of emergency due to mass migration”, Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér announced in Budapest on Wednesday.

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Conference on the Migrant Crisis

Mar 02, 2016

On 2 March, a daylong conference entitled “Migration – Conflict or Cooperation?” was organized in Stefánia Palace, Budapest by the Scientific Research Centre of the General Staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces and the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The patron of the conference is Minister of Defence Dr. István Simicskó.

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It Would be a Sin if the Military Could Not be Deployed to Handle the Migrant Crisis

Mar 01, 2016

According to the Chief of Defence of the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF), it would be a sin if the military could not be deployed when the police prove to be unable to handle the migrant crisis.

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The Hungarian Defence Forces Conduct Aerial Surveillance as of Wednesday to Assist Border Protection

Feb 25, 2016 - Ministry of Defence

The Government of Hungary is committed to protect the borders of the Schengen Area, and is doing its best to safeguard the security of Hungarian citizens.

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Hungarian and Serbian Ministers of Interior Discuss Joint Action to Combat Illegal Immigration

Feb 22, 2016 - Ministry of Interior/MTI

Hungarian Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér and his Serbian counterpart Nebojša Stefanović met in Röszke to discuss joint action to combat illegal immigration.

News in Brief

The Government Will Not Compromise the Security of Hungarians

Feb 18, 2016

Speaking at a forum held in Budapest on Wednesday, 17 February, the Minister of Defence stated that “the Government will not compromise the security of Hungarians, therefore its aim is to get enough room for maneuvering in the fight against terrorism”.

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Hungary Welcomes NATO’s Maritime Mission

Feb 12, 2016 - Ministry of Defence

The Meetings of NATO Defence Ministers took place in Brussels on 10–11 February. Hungary was represented at the event by Deputy Minister Tamás Vargha, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence. The most important task of the meeting was preparation for the July Summit of Heads of State and Government of NATO member states to be held in Warsaw.

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The Hungarian Defense Forces Can Also Assist in Case of Terrorist Threats

Jan 13, 2016

On Tuesday, 12 January, on the initiative of Minister of Defence Dr. István Simicskó, the representatives of parliamentary groups held discussions in the Ministry of Defence about the legislative amendments to be made in the interest of strengthening Hungary’s defence and security and about the tasks of the Hungarian Defence Forces.

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Reinstating Military Conscription is not Necessary

Jan 11, 2016

In response to a statement by Sweden’s foreign minister, on Sunday Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister György Bakondi told public television channel M1 that the Government of Hungary does not see the necessity for reintroduction of military conscription. Keeping the manpower of the reserve force at appropriate levels is important however, he stressed.

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The Hungarian Defence Forces and the Security of the Country Must Be Strengthened

Jan 06, 2016

Due to changing security challenges, Minister of Defence Dr. István Simicskó has initiated five-party talks to be conducted in the Ministry of Defence on 12 January 2016.