Bravery, Commitment and Discipline

Members of the French government, numerous military leaders and chiefs of defence of NATO member states – including Chief of HDF Defence Staff General Dr. Gábor Böröndi – gathered in the decorative courtyard of the Invalides, Paris, on Friday to express their respect for the outstanding military leader finishing his career. For Hungary, close cooperation with the French Armed Forces is of special importance; relations between the French and Hungarian militaries are extensive and strong, their cooperation has been actively built, with a special role played by General Burkhard.

In his interview concerning the ceremony, the Chief of HDF Defence Staff emphasised that Hungary and the Hungarian Defence Forces are committed to French relations and joint training and preparation with the French army. He underlined that it was General Burkhard who made it possible to form a strong, good cooperation between the French and Hungarian militaries. General Böröndi recalled that the French-Hungarian military-to-military relations are rooted in history: Hungarian Field Marshal László Bercsényi was the founder of the French hussar corps. However, “we not only cooperated in the past, during wars, but we also do so in the present, and we are building the future”, he emphasised.

The French-Hungarian military cooperation is present in several fields; it is enough to think about the French-manufactured Mistral air defence missile system also used by the Hungarian Defence Forces. In his speech at the spectacular ceremony with military honours, President Macron praised the general holding the position of chief of defence for four years with warm words: he was always worthy of his position and left a mark on the French armed forces with his consistency, discipline and commitment. He served as an example “in a world where crises proliferate and one must stay strong to stay free”, said the French head of state. France is the only member state of the European Union that has an independent deterring nuclear power on both tactical and strategic levels. This capability, as well as its global military presence and active participation in NATO operations, makes France an outstanding ally for Hungary.

The fact that General Gábor Böröndi was present at the farewell ceremony of the outgoing French Chief of Defence shows that France, as a decisive actor of NATO, is also an important ally to Hungary. It also expresses Hungary’s commitment to the joint security goals and allied cooperation.

General Thierry Burkhard retired as of 1 September, after turning 61 on 30 July. During his career, he rose through the ranks in the military and has been chief of the defence staff since 2021. He participated in numerous international operations and, as a leader, he played a key role in the modernisation of the French armed forces and the strengthening of their international relations. He passed the baton to General Fabien Mandon, Head of the president’s military cabinet. Realising the use of force in international relations becoming a “normality”, General Thierry Burkhard created the concept of “winning the war before the war”. The main idea of this is that the French armed forces must always be on alert to manage a major conflict, as early as in the period of competition.