Szalay-Bobrovniczky: Permanent peace only ‘illusion’

Hungary fulfilled the NATO requirement of defence spending to reach 2 percent of GDP one year ahead of the deadline, this year, he said.

The Hungarian government is providing the sources needed for the army’s comprehensive modernisation despite external economic challenges, he added.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky said he wanted Hungary to have a well-prepared and dedicated military, equipped with high-tech defence technology by the year 2030. Additionally, he said he wanted Hungary to become a key player in defence industry in the region.

The Hungarian government maintains its firm position concerning the Russia-Ukraine war, namely that only an immediate ceasefire and peace talks can bring a solution, he said.

He described the recent attacks in Israel as “barbarian beastiality committed against our civilisation” and added that Hungary supports Israel’s right for self defence.

The resurgence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict also highlights the fact that a peace deal cannot be signed with terrorists, and the combination of uncontrolled, mass migration and terrorism results in an increasing threat.

He added that thanks to measures Hungary introduced in good time after the 2015 migration crisis, Hungarians live in more safety than the citizens of other western countries.

The recent military exercise dubbed Adaptive Hussars 23 involving 4,500 soldiers, 200 pieces of technical equipment and multinational NATO troops further strengthened this, he added.

He confirmed that Hungary supports Sweden’s NATO membership, and said it only depended on lawmakers in parliament when a decision would be passed.