Benkő: Defending Hungary is unthinkable without a strong army
Protecting Hungary and guaranteeing the security of its citizens is impossible without a strong, capable Hungarian Army – the Minister of Defense in Szentes on Friday.
Tibor Benkő emphasized at a public forum that the security environment is changing extremely fast and sharply, new challenges and risks are emerging, which “no one will solve for us”.
He added that there are more and more unstable states in the world. Although many people say that Iraq, Afghanistan and the African states are far away, the effects of the conflicts there are coming to us. His position is consistent, the problems must be solved where they arise government, the minister said.
According to NATO, Europe is facing a double threat from the east and the south, with Hungary at its intersection
Said Tibor Benkő.
He emphasized the dual approach to Russia. NATO needs to show strength, it needs deterrence as well as dialogue, common sense and foresight. However, the continuously applied sanctions policy apparently does not achieve its goal, the head of the Ministry of Defense explained.
The minister said that Hungary is strong enough within NATO to solve tasks that other member states have only been able to do with international help. Units from the Szentes Technical Regiment also left for the eastern part of the country to provide security for the population there.
Tibor Benkő, those interested in Ukraine must be accepted, because they are really refugees, the first safe country is Hungary, as opposed to those who come from the south through the Western Balkans.
In his presentation, the Minister stated that
the Hungarian Armed Forces went through a complete decline in previous decades, so a large-scale, rapid development was needed.
In his view, the closure of barracks in 2003, the squandering of technical equipment and the cessation of capabilities were politically irresponsible. Politicians – not only in Hungary – wrongly expected defense capabilities from NATO, as the strength of the alliance is given by the member states, he said.
That is why the government has decided to create an army, equipped with modern modern technical equipment, soldiers loyal to their homeland. One leg of the Defense and Force Development Program is about the soldier and the surrounding environment, the other is about the development of the military industry and forces, as well as the related research and development and innovation, the Minister emphasized.
Tibor Benkő said that 11.5 thousand had already taken up voluntary reserve military service. This proves: young people can be addressed, they have a vocation, they are able and willing to serve their homeland. The involvement of new generations is made possible by patriotic defense education, the Defense Sports Association, the Defense Cadet Program, and military high schools and colleges.
In response to questions, the Minister explained
in his opinion, Russia does not need Ukraine in its entirety, but it is a significant part of the country, strategic parts, such as the Black Sea coast.
However, it is not known what will be “the fate of the remaining Ukraine”. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also announced their goal of demilitarizing Ukraine, he added.
Sándor Farkas, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, the parliamentary candidate of Fidesz-KDNP in the 3rd constituency of Csongrád-Csanád county, stated that the most important thing for the country is to be able to live in safety and plan for the future.