Without borders – in special operations

Text: HDF SOC | Photo: Staff Sergeant G. K. | 14:10 June 1, 2026

The soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces Special Operations Command also participated in the international Special Operations Forces Exercise Trojan Footprint 2026, which was hosted, among others, by Hungary as well. The large-scale training event running in several countries involved the Hungarian, Slovak, Slovenian and American SOFs, which jointly carried out complex operation on the ground, on water and in the air with the objective of developing interoperability.

Exercise Trojan Footprint 2026 was led by the United States Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) and has today become the largest special operations forces exercise series in the European theater. This year’s exercise brought together some 3000 soldiers from 23 NATO member states and partner countries. The training tasks were going on in a coordinated way at several European venues, with special emphasis on quick reaction, joint operational planning, as well as the conduct of joint and multinational operations.

During the exercise, Hungarian SOF operators carried out raids, installation security and reconnaissance tasks, together with their Slovak, Slovenian and American partners. The training event provided the subunits with an excellent opportunity to practice modern procedures of special operations in a realistic environment and share with each other the lessons learned and the tactical procedures.

The participation of Hungarian soldiers in international exercises is a priority, because it contributes to the development of the SOF capabilities of the Hungarian armed forces and to the strengthening of allied cooperation. Exercise Trojan Footprint 2026 has demonstrated again that the NATO Special Operations Forces are able to react quickly and effectively to the constantly changing security challenges in their environment in a coordinated way.