The Status of Hungary’s Defence
The Status of Hungary’s Defence
The last decade “shook the world” and these events had their impact on the fate and geopolitical situation of Hungary. There have been changes in virtually all the areas of the international arena and we can confidently say that these changes were of revolutionary significance in terms of Euro-Atlantic security and defence as well as security and defence policy. Before elaborating on the main topic – past and current changes in the Hungarian defence policy sector – I would like to provide a brief outlook on the world because the developments in Hungary are perhaps best understood and assessed in light of these.
The most important event from the perspective of NATO was the approval of the new Strategic Concept at the NATO Summit in Washington (April 1999), which replaced that of 1991. The document reflects the adaptation of NATO to the new security environment and ends a decade-long debate on NATO’s role and future. The new strategic concept reaffirms the strengthening of NATO’s political dimension and a radical change in its views on security policy. The new approach places ever greater emphasis on common and general humanitarian values. The intervention in Kosovo is proof and a result of this.
We have also witnessed a transformation in the relationship between the United States and Europe. The shift we have seen is extremely positive, since the increased role of Europe in the field of common security and defence actually serves to strengthen transatlantic ties. NATO’s strategic concept also mentions the importance of developing the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI).
Meanwhile, processes postponed for long within the European Union (EU), which seemed frozen until now gained momentum never seen before. The change in the stance on European security and defence became the most evident in the joint British-French declaration issued after the St. Malo summit in December 1998, which emphasized that it would be purposeful if the European Union assumed a greater role than earlier. The declaration led to the decisions of the EU Council Summit in Cologne (3-4 June 1999) and especially the one held in Helsinki (10-11 December 1999) which transformed the content of the St. Malo declaration into practical terms. The Helsinki EU Council established the concept of the Common European Security and Defence Policy, CESDP and more specifically the concept of European crisis management capabilities. The pledge conference held on 20-21 November was the next step in the realization of the CESDP, when the member states offered their contributions to the crisis management forces of the European Union. The Nice Summit held in early December took the process even further. The most important topics on the agenda were the establishment and consolidation of the cooperation between the EU and NATO – which has been an outstanding issue for long – and the involvement of the non-EU NATO members – i.e., the “club of six” as they say – in European crisis management. It was this latter question which was of outstanding significance to Hungary. The framework necessary for the involvement of the six countries was established in Nice, and it will be up to the Swedish EU-presidency to fill it with content.
Changes occurring in the Hungarian security and defence policy, more specifically in the defence sector, fit into the above-mentioned process. These were rooted in the changed internal and external situation and also in a shift in values. Fellowship with the sets of values and interests of countries of the Euro-Atlantic region provides the foundation of our integration policy. In this regard our greatest achievement was our accession to NATO in 1999, which had more of a political than military significance.
The change in the sets of values – which was also important from the perspective of our EU integration efforts – especially in light of the heightened activities within the EU in the field of security and defence policy, was reflected by the fact that Hungarian security and defence policy was transformed radically, with the interpretation of security changing and becoming more comprehensive. As a result of this, in December 1998, the National Assembly rephrased its views on the basic principles of Hungarian security and defence policy. These principles provide the basis for further documents which are to be published, namely the one on national security and on national military strategy. These documents also constitute an integral part of our integration policy, by clearly reflecting our “change in values”, or as we called it in the transformation of the armed forces our “change in philosophy”.
Naturally, we also had to meet legal and practical – military – requirements during our preparations for NATO membership. During the course of this we established legal and institutional conditions, without which the functioning of the armed forces would be inconceivable in a modern civilian democracy. Being the most important criteria, we established the framework for international cooperation and the civilian oversight of the military. The armed forces integrated into the democratic structures of power and by today the constitutional, institutional and personal conditions of its civilian and democratic oversight are in place.
The reform of the armed forces is the next major step in the defence sector. This is indispensable because of our membership in NATO, and our further aspirations for integration, international commitments, but also the requirements of the age and the capacities of the country. There is a resolution of the National Assembly which defines the lines along which the long range transformation of the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) has to be implemented. The transformation of the HDF is comprehensive in nature, encompassing its stance, organizational structure, command structure, principles of deployment, preparedness, mobilization, augmentation, preparation, and training, the replacement and modernization of its equipment, the system of planning and economy, the personnel structure, living and working conditions of soldiers, social and existential situation, social relations and the complete system of human resource management and development. We have set the objective of establishing a smaller, more flexibly deployable armed force with permanent financing and modern equipment. The ten-year program of transformation is broken into three stages. The first phase (2000-2003) has the main objective of transforming the organizational structures. During the second phase (2004-2006), the most important priority is the quality improvement of training, whereas during the third phase (2007-2010) the main emphasis – besides maintaining the transformation processes started earlier – will be on technical modernization. Since, apart from national defence, the mission of the armed force is of international nature, we have set the fundamental priority of establishing an armed force which is fully capable of performing these international tasks and of full co-operation with the Alliance.
Our international military undertakings go back a long time, thanks to our participation in peacekeeping. Currently we have 716 soldiers serving in peacekeeping missions, the majority of them in the ranks of SFOR and KFOR. The Hungarian engineer contingent directly subordinated to COMSFOR currently has a headcount of 207. Hungary is participating in the KFOR mission in Kosovo with a 323-person-strong guard and security battalion. The tasks of this unit are of utmost significance within the whole mission. This mission is a watershed, since this is the first time that the Hungarian Defence Forces are participating in such a mission with a combat-trained unit. Naturally Hungary also provides host nation support, to ensure the success of the above mentioned missions.
We wish to take part in forming the common European security and defence policy, and European crisis management activities. Hungary has to this end, offered military units and capabilities for EU-led crisis prevention and management in the form of a mechanized infantry battalion, a SHORAD (short range air defence) platoon and a 107 person strong police contingent. This pledge of forces and capabilities is a further proof of our commitment.
I am on the opinion that it is clearly and unequivocally evident that there has been quite a progress in the field of the defence sector in respect of Euro-Atlantic integration during the recent past, which have led to such a historic result as our membership in NATO. The developments in Hungary fit well into the Euro-/trans-atlantic processes and are aimed at complete integration, and more efficient Hungarian and international undertakings.
Zoltán Martinusz
Deputy Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence
Deputy Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence
Estimated costs of NATO expansion between 1997-2009
Direct costs of NATO expansion
Costs for transformation of the armed forces for new members
Costs of accession for new members
