The defense minister has revealed that Hungary spent nearly a quarter of its defense budget on development in 2019.
Tibor Benkő, Minister of Defense, said the government undertaking for the defense budget to reach 2 percent of GDP by 2024 is on target.
According to MTI, the minister said NATO recognizes threats from the east and from the south, which is why a strong and effective Hungarian Army is needed. He added that the defense and armed forces development program dubbed Zrínyi 2026 serves this aim.
The minister said the development of the armed forces was ongoing and is progressing as planned, and upcoming purchases include missiles and armored vehicles. He added that an increasing number of countries have expressed an interest in joining international commands to be set up in Hungary.
Meanwhile, the minister said the security environment had changed on the back of the situation arising from the 2015 wave of illegal migration. He added that the humane solution was to handle the problem at its origin, which is why some 2,000 Hungarian soldiers serve in foreign missions.
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