Chief of HDF Defence Staff receives Qatari Ambassador
Text: HDF Defence Staff | Photo: Dávid Fabók | 17:08 July 23, 2026General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of the HDF Defence Staff, received Radi Sowayed B.S. Alajami, the Qatari Ambassador to Budapest, on an office call. The meeting focused on the potential expansion of military cooperation.
During the meeting, the diplomat of the Arab state presented General Zsolt Sándor with a congratulatory letter from Lieutenant General Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Mannai, Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces, sent to mark his appointment as Chief of Staff. During the talks, the parties reviewed the current state of military relations between the two countries and discussed further opportunities for future cooperation.
Although military-diplomatic relations between Hungary and Qatar have not yet been institutionalized, meetings between the two countries at ministerial and chief of staff levels are not unprecedented.
The current meeting is closely linked to recent diplomatic developments: On June 21, Minister of Defence Dr. Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi PhD also received Radi Sowayed B.S. Alajami. At the meeting, the ambassador presented the Hungarian Minister of Defence with an invitation from the Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs. The parties reaffirmed their intention to hold regular ministerial-level meetings between the two countries and emphasized the importance of expanding practical cooperation between their armed forces.
The ambassador and the chief of staff agreed that there may be numerous opportunities for training and the exchange of expertise, as Qatar also possesses a number of military equipment procured by Hungary, thus their knowledge and experience could be useful to the Hungarian Defence Forces.
The dynamically developing relationship between Hungary and the Gulf State was elevated to the level of a strategic partnership in 2023. Radi Sowayed B.S. Alajami has been Qatar’s ambassador accredited to Budapest since December 2025 and has extensive diplomatic experience. A diplomat with degrees in social sciences and diplomacy, he previously served in Singapore, Sweden, and Malaysia, among other places, and served as consul general in Munich. During his posting in Hungary, he is actively working to deepen ties in the areas of economics, energy, and higher education, thereby reinforcing Qatar’s role as a reliable, long-term partner.
