Last weekend the world was shocked by news of a fire that took the lives of 59 people in a North Macedonian nightclub and injured an additional 156. The blaze broke out after 2am at Club Pulse, most probably due to the pyrotechnics used during a concert. Arguably the nightclub fire is the worst tragedy that has happened in North Macedonia in recent memory.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry’s plane was denied landing in Sarajevo following a decision by Bosnian Defence Minister Zukan Helez. Helez cited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s continued support for Milorad Dodik, leader of Republika Srpska. Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison last week on politically motivated grounds.
Hungarian troops have earned international recognition for their leadership in the EUFOR Althea peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated on Monday. The mission marked a historic milestone as Hungary took command of the EU’s peacekeeping mission for the first time.
‘The HQ MND-C’s role will expand in the coming years, and is set to coordinate NATO military exercises aimed at testing combat readiness and enhancing interoperability among Allied forces. It will continue to play a critical role in the region’s defence architecture, ensuring that the Alliance remains prepared for the challenges of the future.’
Hungary is strengthening its defence cooperation with Türkiye through the acquisition of 56 new Gidrán armoured combat vehicles. The agreement builds on an existing partnership with Turkish defence company Nurol Makina and aligns with Hungary’s broader military modernization efforts started in 2016.
Hungary and Türkiye expand defence cooperation by establishing a Defence Innovation Working Group, aiming to accelerate joint research and development projects, as well as educational and training programmes between the two countries.
Hungary’s Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky introduced a groundbreaking sport reality series co-created by the Ministry of Defence and TV2 at a recent press conference. The television show will offer viewers an inside look at military training, personal challenges, and the transformative power of camaraderie.
Last Friday an explosion occurred at a canal near the town of Zubin Potok in Kosovo, a key component of the country’s energy supply. While Pristina blames Belgrade for the incident, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has called for an independent investigation.
One of the most pressing issues in enhancing the competitiveness of Europe is the need to optimize defence spending. Europeans now spend much more on defence in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, with ten European NATO members set to reach the 2 per cent of GDP spending threshold by the end of 2024. However, developing and acquiring modern weapon systems of cutting-edge technology demand an exponential level of spending for development and production, which can hamstring the capabilities of nation-states if they want to fit out their armies fully with domestically produced equipment, from building tools to jet fighters.
Hungary is on track to establish a fully modernized and re-equipped military force, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky affirmed during a significant milestone of the Defence Development Programme. Speaking at the MH Klapka György Armoured Brigade base on 5 November, Szalay-Bobrovniczky marked the full deployment of the Gidrán combat vehicle fleet, signifying enhanced operational readiness and security capabilities for Hungary in light of ongoing regional conflicts.