Epochal change in the Hungarian Defence Forces
Text: honvedelem.hu/MTI | Photo: Boglárka Bodnár (MTI) | 12:42 July 31, 2023There is an epochal change going on in the Hungarian Defence Forces, and the development program enjoys social and budgetary support – emphasized Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on Friday, 28 July in Esztergom.
Speaking at the event MCC Feszt organized by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated that Hungary is fulfilling its defence investment pledge made in NATO by allocating 2% of the GDP to defence spendings. He added that this 2% of GDP guideline is met in 2023, and the same proportion will be allocated in the 2024 budget as well.
The minister highlighted that NATO expects its member states to devote 20% of their defence expenditures to development and major equipment spending, and Hungary has been meeting this guideline with a 30% or higher proportion for some years. Besides developing the armed forces and procuring equipment, the government of Hungary is building a national defence industry, which carries out the maintenance, manufacturing and development of different equipment systems with a countrywide scope, said the Minister of Defence.
He added that once the factories fulfil the needs of the Hungarian Defence Forces, they can produce for export, and the new jobs created in the defence industry contribute to the balanced development of the regions of Hungary, while the research and development activities have a beneficial impact on the scientific sphere as well.
Due to a sudden downpour, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky finished his presentation earlier than planned.
