Hungary in NATO: Alliance Integration and the Revival of the National Defence Industry

In "Hungary in NATO: Alliance Integration and the Revival of the National Defence Industry", Norbert Szári and Konrád Gazdag deliver a timely and comprehensive analysis of Hungary’s evolving role within the NATO alliance. Marking a quarter-century since Hungary’s accession, the paper examines how a small Central European state has navigated the shifting landscape of post-Cold War security, adapting to NATO standards while preserving a distinctive foreign policy voice. From peacekeeping missions to air policing and participation in major alliance exercises, Hungary has consistently demonstrated its operational commitment, even as it has pursued an increasingly pragmatic, interest-driven strategic posture.

At the heart of this dual strategy lies the Zrínyi 2026 Defence and Armed Forces Development Programme, a sweeping national effort to modernise Hungary’s military capabilities and re-establish a viable domestic defence industry. The authors trace how this initiative serves both NATO obligations and the pursuit of national strategic autonomy: modernising equipment, expanding personnel capacity and nurturing industrial partnerships, particularly with Germany. In doing so, Hungary aims to become not just a contributor to collective defence, but a more self-reliant and influential actor within the transatlantic security ecosystem.

This paper offers a nuanced exploration of the tensions and synergies between alliance solidarity and sovereign agency. It raises crucial questions about the future of European defence integration, the balance of power within NATOand the role of mid-sized states in shaping regional security. Through rich historical context, policy analysisand forward-looking insight, Szári and Gazdag’s study sheds light on how Hungary’s path, defined by both loyalty and leverage, might serve as a model or warning for other nations navigating today’s complex geopolitical terrain.