Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the resources necessary to defend the country have been secured.
In a post on Facebook on Saturday, the minister said the 2024 budget act, passed by lawmakers on Friday, earmarks 1,823 billion forints (EUR 4.7bn) for defense, the defense industry and defense innovation. That defense allocation, equivalent to 2% of GDP, in line with Hungary’s NATO pledge, is reason for pride at the upcoming NATO summit, he added. As the war in Ukraine enters its 500th day, a military solution is not in sight, the defense minister said. Big European and NATO powers are convinced that the conflict can be resolved with a continuation and escalation of the war, but Hungary doesn’t share that view, he added. “Hungary has been on the side of peace from the start. We want a ceasefire and immediate peace talks,” he said.
Photo credit: MTI