Hungarian Rotating Presidency Begins: New Momentum for the V4 Military Cooperation

The Chiefs of Defence of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, including General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, met in Warsaw to assess together the security challenges affecting the region and Europe. The discussion was timely as the war in our neighbourhood, the changed engagement of the United States and fulfilling the NATO regional plans are all such factors that raise the necessity of military cooperation to a new level.

At the plenary session, the global and regional security situations were assessed. The participants agreed that the Russo-Ukrainian War is a major factor regarding Europe’s future, and building up and operating individual, national armed forces is prioritised. The current delicate balance requires rapid and strong responses: the coordination of the V4 countries can play a key role in this.

At the meeting, further cooperation possibilities were also covered, including joint exercises, filling up the EU BG by 2028, joint doctrine development and possible connection of cyber capabilities. The role of Artificial Intelligence and the future of cyber warfare remain topics of key importance in the following years; thus, in these fields, the possibility of joint development is also open.

As for the timing of military training and exercises, General Böröndi emphasised that “filling up the EU Battlegroup, as well as joint training and preparations, are of high importance”.

The Chief of the HDF Defence Staff also underlined that “the military base of V4 is still important, the discussions still have a friendly atmosphere, and we continue to strengthen and support each other formally and informally in both the EU and NATO”.

The ceremonial part of the summit was the handover-takeover of the rotating presidency. The Polish party handed over the presidency to Hungary with a symbolic hammer. Hungary will coordinate the V4 military cooperation in the next year.

According to General Böröndi, Hungary’s goal for the period of the presidency is not only formal coordination, but also bringing specific results.