The Strength of the Alliance Lies in Joint Action

At the invitation of Gülsun Erkul, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Budapest, General Zsolt Sándor also attended the reception held to mark the Turkish national holiday. The event also provided an opportunity to emphasise the importance of the close diplomatic, military and defence ties between the two countries.

Cooperation between Hungary and Türkiye extends far beyond ceremonial occasions. This long-standing, high-level strategic partnership also yields tangible results in day-to-day military cooperations. As NATO Allies and bilateral partners, both countries are committed to strengthening collective security, developing defence capabilities and effectively carrying out Alliance tasks.

“Türkiye is not only an important NATO Ally for Hungary, but also a reliable strategic partner. The strength of our military relations is demonstrated not by ceremonial occasions, but by our day-to-day collaboration, mutual trust and the successful execution of joint tasks,” said General Zsolt Sándor.

A key example of this partnership is the cooperation within the framework of the NATO Forward Land Forces (FLF). From the outset of the initiative, Hungary and Türkiye took joint steps to strengthen the Alliance’s eastern flank. As a result of this joint effort, Hungary is hosting a multinational FLF battlegroup comprising Croatian, Italian and Turkish forces, led by Hungary. The military formation is a key element of NATO’s collective defence capability and the interoperability of Allied forces.

“The true value of Alliance solidarity is revealed when our soldiers work side by side towards shared objectives, which also demonstrates that NATO’s strength lies in trust, cooperation and joint action among nations,” emphasised the Chief of Defence.

Hungarian–Turkish relations, however, are not limited to land operations. Cooperation between the air forces and special operations forces, as well as the development of defence industry ties, both contribute to strengthening the defence capabilities of the two countries. One of the most impressive and tangible results of this is the Turkish-developed Gidrán (Ejder Yalçın) armoured tactical vehicle, which has entered service with the Hungarian Defence Forces and is a key element in its modernisation.

The national holiday of the Republic of Türkiye thus provided an opportunity to commemorate this historic anniversary and to reaffirm that the partnership between Hungary and Turkey is founded on mutual trust, shared security interests and commitment to the Alliance. Cooperation between the two countries, ranging from diplomatic relations to the execution of joint military tasks, demonstrates that the strength of the Alliance lies in joint action.