Hungary Signs Military Drones Deal With Israel, Germany

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary’s nationalist prime minister has warned nations to “think twice” about “messing” with his country after he inked an accord to manufacture combat drones together with Israeli and German firms.

The remarks monitored by Worthy News on Monday came at the opening ceremony of a new combat vehicle factory in Zalaegerszeg in southwest Hungary.

“If I heard about a country that produces and develops military technology together with Germans and Israelis, I would think twice about messing with them, and that’s good news for every Hungarian,” Orbán stressed.

Orbán explained that the unmanned drones would be produced with Israeli defense technology company UVision and a German partner that he declined to name.

The move is part of an effort to grow and modernize its military and defense industry, the prime minister explained.

It also underscored Orbán’s relationship with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who described the Hungarian leader as a “true friend of Israel” in 2018.

The combat vehicle factory that opened Friday in Zalaegerszeg, in which the Hungarian government has a 49 percent stake, is majority-owned by German military technology company Rheinmetall.

FIGHTING FORCES

The investment is part of increasing efforts by the Orbán government to enlarge its fighting forces and increase the production of military equipment.

He stressed Friday that operations would soon begin at another Rheinmetall investment in Central Hungary, which he claimed would be “one of Europe’s most modern ammunition factories.”

He also expressed pride about an Airbus factory in Hungary that opened last year to produce components for modern combat helicopters. A Hungarian company acquired it in 2021 of Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody, which assembles military and training aircraft.

Yet, while the prime minister focuses on Hungary, he has to provide weapons to neighboring Ukraine, which faces an ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Instead, Orbán, seen as one of Europe’s most outspoken pro-Russia politicians, has called for peace talks. However, he clarified that although Hungary is “on the side of peace” in the war, “for peace, you must have strength.”

He added that Hungary’s defense industry should remain independent and that Hungarian innovation and technology must be “at the forefront of the world.”

The war in Ukraine had “only strengthened our determination.” Unlike several other NATO military alliance members, Hungary has promised to spend at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense, Orbán said.

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