Defence Minister: Hungary security ‘starts in Sahel’

Written by BT/MTI

Hungary’s anti-terrorism cooperation with Chad is of strategic importance for Hungary as well as Europe, the defence minister said on Tuesday when he briefed Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno on the water purification capabilities of the Hungarian Armed Forces and presented Hungarian-manufactured drones.

At the meeting held in the Balna Defence Centre in Budapest, Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said migration from the south was one of the greatest security threats in Europe. Terrorism, against which Hungary and Chad were taking a stance together, was one of the root causes of migration, he said.

The two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement on Monday, which will further boost cooperation, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.

The minister said Chad was “one of the last stable countries in the Sahel”, and Hungary was providing support to ease the humanitarian crisis triggered by the refugees fleeing armed conflict in neighbouring Sudan. Hungary is also aiding economic growth and an effective fight against terrorism, the ministry cited Szalay-Bobrovniczky as saying.