In an interview published by Mandiner, Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said: "For the first time in a long period, Hungary now has a national strategy within an alliance but with full sovereignty."
The minister said next year’s budget would provide "sufficient guarantees" for his portfolio thanks to the government’s new defense fund, and defense spending would reach 2 percent of GDP in 2023 and continue at that level for years to come. The minister said the government had been "prudent" to start the military reform years ago, which, in light of the war in Ukraine, was a "considerable advantage". Further developments will focus on staffing and their remuneration, he added. Hungary, he said, will uphold its earlier commitments to NATO. He warned, however, that being a member of that alliance "is not enough in itself". It is crucial that Hungary has a "voluntary, well-trained and equipped, large national military" which is "confident and able".
Photo credit: MTI