About Hungary beta

EUObserver wins ‘fake news’ award for reporting Hungary backing Catalan independence movement

PM Orbán says “Hungary will never be an immigrant country"

The prime minister categorized states as either “immigrant” or “non-immigrant countries” in terms of their approach to migration. He also spoke of Hungary's recovering economy and the rise in employment

PM Orbán: The government wants “a Hungarian Hungary and a European Europe”

POLITICO: “Orbán wins the migration argument”

“Nobody will admit it in this town, but yes, Orbán’s narrative is prevailing”

Military

News in Brief

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Four Zlin light training and reconnaissance aircraft have already been purchased to replace outdated Yak-52 training aircraft, and new aircraft have been commissioned

News in Brief

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

News in Brief

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

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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”.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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”.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.

News in Brief

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.