Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Central European countries can become influential players if they cooperate more closely, speaking at a Budapest event where new defence industry partnerships were announced.
The event marked the signing of a long-term strategic agreement between 4iG Space and Defence Technologies Ltd and Czechoslovak Group, as well as expanded cooperation with the Hungarian Defence Forces.
‘Individually we weaken, but together we can succeed and even become decisive factors,’ Orbán said, stressing that the ongoing global transformation presents both opportunities and risks for the region. According to the prime minister, Central Europe could grow stronger but must also avoid falling into new external dependencies.
He recalled that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, leaders in the region recognized the importance of cooperation and established the Visegrád Group. Orbán said the new agreement represents a similar idea applied to economic and industrial cooperation, particularly in the defence sector.
The prime minister emphasized that Hungary supports strengthening regional industry and developing shared capabilities. Building joint defence capacity with neighbouring countries, he said, is a key step toward creating a strong and independent Central Europe.
Orbán also highlighted the role of the Hungarian vehicle manufacturer Rába Automotive Holding, noting that the company has long been an important player in European mechanical engineering. Components produced in Győr are installed in around 110,000 vehicles each year, he said, but the new agreement allows the company to advance from being mainly a supplier to becoming a manufacturer.
At the same time, 4iG has obtained exclusive rights to represent and sell vehicles produced by Tatra Trucks, including military and special-purpose vehicles that the Hungarian armed forces are expected to require. Orbán praised Czech partners for preserving the Tatra company, recalling that after the political changes of the early 1990s, countries in the region adopted different economic strategies. In his view, the Czech approach proved more successful in maintaining internationally recognized companies under domestic ownership. The Hungarian government sees the cooperation between Tatra Trucks and 4iG, which owns Rába, as part of a broader geopolitical strategy. Orbán said the agreement goes beyond a simple business partnership, as both companies hold significant positions in their respective countries.
He described the development as a step toward deeper military and technological cooperation between two long-standing Central European nations. Hungarians and Czechs, he noted, have played key roles in the region’s history for centuries, sometimes as rivals and at other times as allies.
According to the prime minister, the partnership could also strengthen Hungary’s defence industry. He said 4iG and Rába are expected to become flagship players in the sector, while the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian armed forces are reinforcing their strategic partnership with 4iG.
Orbán noted that the company has already established several international collaborations, including partnerships with Czech, Turkish, Southeast Asian and American partners. He added that there is already an order for around 2,000 Tatra armoured trucks produced in Hungary, worth about 600 billion forints, which will involve factory development and technology transfer. In addition, nearly 800 domestically produced Gidrán vehicles are expected to be ordered, valued at around 1,000 billion forints, which could provide further stability for production and the market.
‘There is already an order for around 2,000 Tatra armoured trucks produced in Hungary, worth about 600 billion forints’
The prime minister also said that during a recent visit by the US secretary of state to Hungary, and with the approval of Donald Trump, an agreement was reached to mount American HIMARS rocket systems on Tatra trucks assembled in Győr. To support these projects, Hungary plans to launch a 100 billion forint infrastructure and factory development programme, expected to create hundreds of new jobs, new facilities, additional capacities and supplier contracts.
Orbán also addressed Hungary’s current energy situation, saying the country is facing an oil blockade because oil has not been flowing through the Druzhba oil pipeline. In such circumstances, he said, the country must decide whether to yield to pressure or respond with countermeasures.
Hungary aims to become a country that cannot be coerced or blackmailed, Orbán said, adding that while Hungary stands on the side of peace and development, peace requires strength and credible deterrence. The agreements signed at the event, he concluded, represent an important step in that direction.
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