Latest news with #Szalay-Bobrovniczky
Budapest Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Defense Minister: Globalist world model has failed, and the future belongs to patriots
The defense minister said that patriots believed that the future of the nation was written "not in imperial centres but at home". Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the globalist world model has failed, and the future belongs to patriots. Speaking at the CPAC Hungary 2025 on Thursday, Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that after the Cold War, 'rather than becoming stronger, the West turned upon itself and started questioning its own history … and forgot that freedom is not a legacy but something we have to protect every day.' 'While others grapple with their past, we patriots see increasingly clearly that identity is not a burden but a stance, that the nation is not an outdated concept but a force that shapes the law, and sovereignty is not a hindrance to cooperation but a requirement,' he said. The defense minister said that patriots believed that the future of the nation was written 'not in imperial centres but at home', building on its own traditions, culture and community. Patriots, he added, were unapologetic about their national identity because 'we are not a multinational company or a global corporation but people of flesh and blood…' he said. In the 21st century, wars were not only fought with weapons, he said. 'The front lines are in our heads: they are attacking our culture, faith and way of thinking, because they know they can win without weapons if they can take away the truth and re-shape our identity.' The current government has 'rebuilt' the Hungarian Armed Forces, 'not as a threat but out of respect, because we know that … we must protect the country,' the defense minister added.
Budapest Times
10-04-2025
- Business
- Budapest Times
5,000 Hungarians join armed forces reserves in past 10 months
The defense minister said the territorial reserve system was a good entry point into the professional ranks, and more than 400 reservists have gone on to become professional or contract soldiers. Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said more than 5,000 Hungarians have joined the Hungarian armed forces reserves in the past ten months, declaring that 'yet a new milestone' had been reached and that 'patriotism is indomitable'. Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the numbers proved the success of the army's campaign to induct reservists as well as the commitment of the Hungarian people, adding that the pace of recruitment was 'unprecedented'. 'By mid-January, we reached the four thousand mark, and by April we had already exceeded five thousand…' he said, declaring this a sign of 'strengthening cohesion, community responsibility and camaraderie'. He said the territorial reserve system was a good entry point into the professional ranks, and more than 400 reservists have gone on to become professional or contract soldiers. Companies that employ reservists receive a 'disciplined, confident and motivated workforce' due to their training, he added. Also, employers can claim compensation from the Hungarian armed forces once a reservist is called up, the minister added.
Budapest Times
04-04-2025
- Health
- Budapest Times
Hungarian Armed Forces conduct disinfection work at locations affected by foot-and-mouth disease
Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said on Facebook that the Hungarian Armed Forces can be counted on. Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the Hungarian Armed Forces are conducting disinfection work at locations affected by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease after the disease was detected at more farms in the country in recent days. Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky said on Facebook that the Hungarian Armed Forces can be counted on, adding that, like during last year's floods, the Hungarian troops were prepared to help wherever they were needed.
Budapest Times
03-04-2025
- Business
- Budapest Times
Hungary and Serbia boost military cooperation
Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said in Belgrade on Tuesday that Hungary and Serbia have agreed to boost military cooperation and signed an agreement on the 2025 plan. 'It is especially important in today's fast-changing international environment that Serbia and Hungary, two neighbouring countries, conduct frequent high-level consultations to ensure the stability of the region,' Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky told a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Hungary and Serbia have the strongest bilateral defense and military ties among non-EU or NATO member states, and Hungary is helping to upgrade Serbia's armed forces, he said. Serbia and Hungary's strategic partnership was expanded to include defense and military cooperation in 2023, and cooperation between the ministries and armed forces is strengthening, he said. Under the agreement signed on Tuesday, the two countries will organise 79 joint programmes in 2025, including flotilla training, an international exercise for volunteer reservists and marksmanship training, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. Hungary is committed 'to [maintaining] the stability and peace of the Western Balkans, and Serbia is key to that.' Hungary also sticks to its stance that 'the European Union is not whole without the Western Balkans, including Serbia,' he said. 'A credible and meaningful enlargement policy has been our strategic goal for years, and it was one of the priorities of Hungary's presidency of the Council of the EU in 2024.' Budapest also stands by the Dayton Peace Agreement, he added. Vucic said Serbia's defense ties with Hungary were the strongest among all its neighbours. A comprehensive defense agreement is one of the most important points of the two countries' strategic partnership, he said. In 1999, during the Balkan wars, 'it was thanks to Prime Minister Viktor Orban that NATO could not launch a land attack against what was then Yugoslavia,' Vucic said. 'A full 26 years later, the two parties now have the opportunity to build extremely close strategic ties, to further deepen cooperation, coming closer to a Hungarian-Serbian military alliance.' 'Serbia can learn a lot from Hungary, and there is interest in certain military equipment,' he said. Vucic thanked Hungary for standing by Serbia 'in hard times as well as in good ones,' and said Budapest could always count on Serbia's support. Besides military cooperation, Serbia and Hungary are reliable partners in energy matters, and bilateral trade has been growing steadily year after year, he said.
Budapest Times
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
New tanks and Lynx infantry fighting vehicle delivered to Hungarian armed forces
Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the tanks arrived at the Klapka Gyorgy armored brigade base in Tata. Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said new Leopard 2A7HU tanks and a Lynx infantry fighting vehicle, as well as thousands of modern assault rifles, have been delivered to the Hungarian armed forces. Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the tanks arrived at the Klapka Gyorgy armored brigade base in Tata, according to a ministry statement. Meanwhile, the infantry fighting vehicle will strengthen the Pal Kinizsi 30th armored infantry brigade. Also, Lynx drivers have access to combat vehicle driving simulators at the Hodmezovasarhely unit, he added. The minister praised the ongoing series of military upgrades, saying the new deliveries were of 'reliable and highly combat-effective equipment, strengthening the security of Hungary'. More equipment, including Leopard tanks, Wisent 2 technical towing combat vehicles, Leguan bridge launchers, Lynx infantry fighting vehicles and H225M helicopters, will be delivered in the coming months, he added.
