New Military Agreement with Turkey in Progress

The Parliament started on Tuesday the debate on the bill on the Hungarian-Turkish military framework agreement, Honvedelem.hu writes.

Deputy Defense Minister Tamás Vargha said that the Turkish side approached Hungary in November 2020 with a view to concluding a new framework agreement to replace the 1995 agreement.

He said that the Hungarian government will continue its defense industrial cooperation with Turkey in line with its policy of opening up to the East, which will provide an appropriate basis for the further development of military relations. The priority programs of these developments are joint training and exercises, and the possibility of exchanging information and experience, which justify the conclusion of a general framework agreement, he explained.

Tamás Vargha added that

Turkey is an important ally in the fight against terrorism and has a vital role to play in ensuring security in the region and in Europe, and in protecting Europe against migration.

One example of military cooperation between the two countries is the Ejder Yalçın combat vehicle, known in Hungary as the Gidran. In spring 2021, the Hungarian Defense Forces were equipped with the multipurpose armored vehicles developed and manufactured by Turkish Nurol Makina, which can be used primarily in a support role. Turkey is also among world leaders in drone technology, especially in the affordable segment, which makes defense co-operation all the more attractive from the Hungarian perspective.

Gidran Combat Vehicles Increase Operational Capabilities of Land Forces