Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said the cooperation between Tatra Trucks and 4iG was in itself an important development, but for the Hungarian government, it meant more, as it formed part of a comprehensive geopolitical strategy. He made the remarks at a Budapest event on Monday where 4iG Space and Defense Technologies (4iG SDT) announced a long-term strategic partnership with Czechoslovak Group, as well as cooperation with the Hungarian Armed Forces.
PM Orbán said it was not only about two major companies entering into cooperation, but also about the fact that both companies held outstanding significance in their own countries. “We could also say that in reality two old Central European peoples have decided that beyond the usual cooperation, they are now embarking on military and technological cooperation,” he said.
He recalled that Czechs and Hungarians had been decisive actors in the region for a thousand years, at times rivals and at times fighting alongside one another. He added that there had also been peaceful periods of cooperation, noting that when Hungary had a battleship, its cannons were manufactured in the Czech lands and ammunition was produced by Manfréd Weiss.
Addressing the global realignment, PM Orbán said it presented an opportunity for the region to strengthen, but also increased the risk of foreign dependency. “It depends mostly on us how this develops,” he said, adding that history showed the region weakened separately but could become successful and even decisive when united.
He said Hungary was interested in strengthening regional industry and developing joint capabilities, building “a strong and independent Central Europe.” He noted that 4iG had acquired exclusive rights to represent and sell Tatra military and special vehicles, and that there was already an order for around 2,000 Hungarian-manufactured Tatra armored trucks, valued at HUF 600 billion, linked to factory development and technology transfer. He added that a HUF 100 billion infrastructure and factory development program would create new jobs and capacities, and said peace required strength with a serious deterrent force.