Hungary's Great Rearmament: A Small Military's Big Transformation in the 21st Century

Hungary disarmed after the Cold War ended, following global trends to save resources during its transition to a capitalist economy. Much of the country’s military capabilities were diminished as a result. In 2014, the country slowly began its rearmament under the framework established by the framework of the Zrínyi 2026 program and adjusted its strategic culture accordingly. These arms purchases offered Hungary new opportunities for international industrial cooperation. This paper focuses on key platforms and strategic documents of the Hungarian armed forces and explores the twists and turns of disarmament. It highlights emerging NATO pressure to rearm following Hungary’s accession, then turns to analyzes of platforms and bilateral partnerships to uncover patterns of Hungarian rearmament in the international system and the new partnerships it has fostered.