The Finnish Ambassador was received by the Minister of Defence

The purpose of the Finnish Ambassador’s visit was to explain the priorities of Finland’s EU-Presidency. During the meeting it became clear that Hungary’s defence policy objectives are in harmony with the program of the Finnish EU Presidency.

Tibor Benkő highlighted that the NATO-EU co-operation and one of its flagships, the military mobility project are high priority tasks, and he emphasised the importance of strengthening the relations between the two organisations. He pointed out that Hungary continues to support and is an active participant of those international PESCO projects, which enhance Europe’s defence capability. Furthermore, in this area emphasis must also be placed on the role of the European Defence Fund (EDF) supporting the expansion of the EU’s defence industrial capacity and technological development. The Minister addressed also that among the new type of security challenges particular attention should be paid to the forms of hybrid warfare and the handling of those. In order to establish closer co-operation, the Ministry of Defence started negotiations on the accession to the Helsinki-based Hybrid Centre of Excellence (Hybrid CoE), which can have a positive impact on the military-to-military co-operation with Finland at the same time.

In the courtesy call, the parties spoke about the need to handle the migratory pressure on Europe. Tibor Benkő highlighted that Hungary is convinced that the Schengen borders have to perform their function, they have to defend Europe. The crisis-induced migrations should be handled on their place of origin, and the Hungarian Defence Forces takes their share in the tasks, which serve this goal. Hungary is situated at the intersection of the Eastern and the Southern threats, owing to which we are experiencing now both hybrid threats and the challenges coming from the South. Hungary is committed to explore the solutions together with her European partners, which make the defence tactical methods more effective.

During the discussion the Minister informed the Finnish Ambassador, that Hungary with the Zrínyi 2026 National Defence and Armed Forces Development Program implements the most important armed forces development of the past 20 years in the coming years. The objective of the development of the armed forces is not only the improvement of the military capabilities, but also the maintenance of our own national army, including the technological developments, and the creation of new jobs. The Zrínyi 2026 program focusses on Hungary and on the Hungarian people, but the program simultaneously supports the development of the European defence capabilities.

Photos of István Ruzsa