Hungary’s Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky bid farewell to US Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Robert Palladino with appreciative remarks. He said the diplomat ‘recognized the sincere and friendly intentions of the Hungarians’, and thanks to his efforts, everything that his predecessor had deliberately dismantled over four years had been repaired.
The Departing Chargé Leaves Behind Undeniable Achievements
‘Within half a year, our bilateral relations gained new momentum, and the unsuccessful, troubled period may be replaced by a new American–Hungarian golden age,’ wrote Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on his social media page after meeting Chargé d’Affaires Robert J Palladino of the US Embassy in Budapest, who is leaving the capital upon the expiration of his interim mandate.
Robert Palladino assumed interim leadership of the US Embassy in Budapest in March. He stepped into the role following the resignation of David Pressman, who was appointed by Joe Biden and whose tenure was marked by numerous disputes with the Hungarian government.
Caroline Savage will arrive to succeed Palladino. According to her résumé, she specializes in Russia and the post-Soviet region, having previously worked in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. She also headed the Russia and Central Asia Directorate at both the National Security Council and the US State Department. In addition to Russian, she has studied Hungarian. The next ambassador is expected to be businessman Benjamin Landa as a political appointee; he was nominated for the post by Donald Trump on 5 October.
‘With the active and decisive involvement of Robert J Palladino, the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires in Budapest, we were able to repair everything that his predecessor had consciously dismantled during four years,’ the defence minister stated.
‘The results of his work are clearly demonstrated by the Washington summit, which brought historic and strategic progress and reaffirmed that we continue to view the United States as a key strategic partner. We are grateful to Mr Palladino for recognizing the sincere and friendly intentions of the Hungarians!’ Szalay-Bobrovniczky expressed on social media.
A New Era Begins in Defence Cooperation as Well
The early November meeting between US President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a breakthrough not only in economic and energy cooperation, but also in defence. According to the Hungarian defence minister, for the past four years, Hungary had been denied access to certain American military technologies for political reasons—technologies that could be crucial for the ongoing armed forces modernization and thus for national defence. Following the leaders’ meeting, however, Hungary may now gain access to the most advanced US military technology, previously out of reach. This marks a new chapter in defence relations between the two countries.
‘Hungary may now gain access to the most advanced US military technology, previously out of reach’
According to the US State Department, the Hungarian government intends to purchase defence equipment worth 700 million dollars through a government-to-government agreement. The Ministry of Defence adds that several items included in the ten-year procurement plan could be sourced from the United States.
During the US–Hungary summit on 7 November, Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky met in Washington with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge A Colby. The minister said that extensive negotiations will follow to implement the issues discussed, determining exactly what systems and defence industrial opportunities Hungary will be able to utilize within the deepened US–Hungary relationship.
It is known that, to enhance its rocket artillery capabilities, the Hungarian Defence Forces may purchase the long-range, precision HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) developed by Lockheed Martin. Procurement of the HIMARS system is envisioned within a three- to five-year timeframe, primarily due to high global demand and manufacturing capacity constraints. Approximately 20–25 artillery units and around 100 rockets are under consideration—an ideal quantity given the size and ambition of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
In addition to HIMARS, Hungary is expected to purchase long-range air-surveillance radars from the United States. Regarding further potential acquisitions, the defence minister said: ‘We have a list—a ten-year forces development plan that includes procurement plans across many different areas.’ And now, it appears that all obstacles to Hungary obtaining the most advanced American technology have been removed, should the need arise.
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