NATO delegation from SHAPE

Major General Ferenc Kajári said that the development of the armed forces – that is, the renewal and modernization process of the Hungarian Defence Forces that had started in 2017 – is a highly important task. The goal is to establish a NATO-compatible, deployable and sustainable military force possessing advanced operational capability. He emphasized that Hungary is a committed and reliable Ally in all 3 “Cs” of NATO’s burden-sharing (Cash, Capabilities, Commitments), which is best demonstrated by the fact that its defence spendings will already reach the NATO guideline of 2% of GDP in 2023 – one year earlier than specified in the Defence Investment Pledge (DIP) accepted at the Wales Summit – and it intends to maintain this level in the future. The Deputy Chief of Defence pointed out that our security and our support to the Alliance are equally important.

After the words of welcome, the members of the delegation attended professional presentations. The invited speakers spoke about, among other things, the structure and organization of the Hungarian Defence Forces as well as the results achieved in the development of the armed forces, and they also informed the delegates about the already received items of military equipment and those that are to arrive in the future. Furthermore, they informed the guests about the mission, structure and task system of the Székesfehérvár-based Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) and the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU HUN).

Lieutenant Colonel Bálint Suhajda, Operations Officer, Hungarian National Military Representation said that this year, of the NATO member states, it is Hungary that hosts the National Military Representatives, whose handbook prescribes that they must organize meetings twice a year, in the form of national visits. “Today, the professional presentations introduced the representatives of allied states to Hungary’s activity done in the interest of the Alliance, its operational involvement, as well as its position on defence policy”, summed up Lieutenant Colonel Suhajda the significance of the event.

At the close of the professional day, the military representatives visited the HDF 1st EOD and Riverine Guard Regiment, where they had the opportunity to look into the everyday routine of the regiment. Their next program is a visit to the Tata-based HDF 1st Armored Brigade, where they are going to see the military hardware of the unit.