Peace is not granted

The Chief of Defence welcomed to Budapest the NATO commanders, the high-level leaders of member states and their groups of experts, including the Deputy Chiefs of Defence of Romania and Slovakia, who gathered in Hungary to plan land forces capabilities and developments.

According to General Böröndi, “the threat before us is clearer than ever – and more complex than perhaps at any point since the founding of the Alliance.” Russia’s sustained aggression against Ukraine, hybrid warfare and the rapid evolution of disruptive technologies jointly present a challenge to the Alliance.

“This is not just a European moment. It is a Euro-Atlantic one” – said Dr. Gábor Böröndi, adding that today, the global theatres are no longer separated, as they are connected by intent, by supply chains, and by shared adversaries.

According to the general, NATO is redesigning itself so that instead of merely responding to the challenges, it can master the security environment. He added that the Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area (DDA) is not just a strategic document, but the backbone of collective defence.

“But plans alone do not deter. Capabilities and unity do” – stated General Böröndi. In the coming years, NATO is planning to make significant investments, and intends to accelerate the introduction of new technologies through programs like the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and the NATO Innovation Fund. The goal is “bringing cutting-edge solutions into Allied hands within 24 months. NATO’s edge will not be measured only in the size of its forces – but in the speed at which it adapts” – said the Chief of Defence, adding that nowhere is adaptation more visible than on land.

Dr. Gábor Böröndi talked about the role of the Hungarian Defence Forces in strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. Hungary has significantly increased its defense spending, launched a comprehensive military development program, and serves as Framework Nation for the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) and for the Hungary-led, multinational NATO Forward Land Force Battlegroup (NATO FLF BG) stationed in Hungary.

United States Army General Cristopher Donahue, Commander, Allied Land Command said that “We chose to conduct our first conference after The Hague Summit in Hungary because of its strategic importance to NATO’s eastern flank. We are leveraging the Summit’s momentum to improve our deterrence posture, ensure collective understanding of the plans and requirements, and to build real fighting capability through transformation”. He added that the present conference would inform the Conference of European Armies and LANDEURO next week.