Defense Minister: Hungary plays active role in strengthening NATO’s eastern flank

At a meeting focused on the Russia-Ukraine war, Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the allies needed to refrain from any steps that might hinder the success of the United States’ peace efforts or could lead to an escalation of the conflict.

The meeting also touched on regional security, strengthening NATO’s eastern flank and increasing defense investments. Eastern NATO countries had been under serious pressure since the start of the war in Ukraine to bolster their defenses in response to the threat to their east, Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky said, according to a ministry statement.

He said that as a credible ally, Hungary made “outstanding efforts” relative to its size and opportunities to contribute to NATO’s activities.

Monday’s summit of the presidents of the Bucharest Nine, comprising Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia and the Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Iceland Norway and Sweden) was held in preparation for the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague. Hungary was represented by the defense minister on behalf of President Tamás Sulyok.