According to the Chief of Defence of the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF), it would be a sin if the military could not be deployed when the police prove to be unable to handle the migrant crisis.
The Government of Hungary is committed to protect the borders of the Schengen Area, and is doing its best to safeguard the security of Hungarian citizens.
At the opening of a military and security industry conference held in Budapest on Tuesday, 23 February, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) emphasized that no security risks should be underestimated.
Speaking at a forum held in Budapest on Wednesday, 17 February, the Minister of Defence stated that “the Government will not compromise the security of Hungarians, therefore its aim is to get enough room for maneuvering in the fight against terrorism”.
The Meetings of NATO Defence Ministers took place in Brussels on 10–11 February. Hungary was represented at the event by Deputy Minister Tamás Vargha, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence. The most important task of the meeting was preparation for the July Summit of Heads of State and Government of NATO member states to be held in Warsaw.
Speaking on the InfoRádió programme “Aréna” on Monday evening, Minister of Defence István Simicskó emphasised that “The Hungarian Defence Forces also have a mission to show their strength”. In his opinion, showcasing the capacity of the state to take action serves as a deterrent to terrorists.
At a press briefing held after the annual assessment and tasking conference for leaders of the Hungarian Defence Forces, Minister of Defence Dr. István Simicskó stated that “the Government of Hungary will not compromise the security of Hungarians, and that is the most important thing”.
On Friday, while addressing the military attachés accredited to Budapest on the occasion of the New Year in the capital, Minister of Defence Dr. István Simicskó said that “soldiers serve peace and security around the world, and that’s why civilians must respect the members of the armed forces”.
In an interview Hungarian daily Magyar Hírlap published on Thursday, 14 January, the Minister of Defence said that “there will be changes in the functioning of the Ministry of Defence, because this is the only way to achieve our two main goals: to increase speed and to reduce bureaucracy”.
On Tuesday, 12 January, on the initiative of Minister of Defence Dr. István Simicskó, the representatives of parliamentary groups held discussions in the Ministry of Defence about the legislative amendments to be made in the interest of strengthening Hungary’s defence and security and about the tasks of the Hungarian Defence Forces.