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Hungary: The Allied Outlier – book chapter by Boglárka Koller in Springer’s Security, Defence, and the Future of Europe

2026.06.02. | 09:37

Security, Defence, and the Future of Europe

Views from the Capitals

Editors: Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak, Paul Schmidt

This book provides a panoramic and comparative view of how Europe is currently redefining its security and defence in an age of renewed geopolitical tension and uncertainty. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Europe finds itself at a crossroads, caught between a fading reliance on the United States, growing hybrid threats, and the urgent need to strengthen its own resilience and defence capabilities. The book explores how this moment is reshaping Europe’s identity, priorities, and strategic posture. Drawing on insights from authors across EU Member States and neighbouring countries, the book offers a guide to the continent’s diverse perceptions of threats, definitions of security, and positioning within a broader European security architecture. Written in a concise and accessible style, it offers invaluable insights for policymakers, scholars, and all readers interested in understanding how Europe is now preparing for peace in a time of war.

Abstract

Despite its direct political confrontation with the EU and pro-Russian foreign policy stance, Hungary supports the EU’s security and defence developments. Since 2017, it has modernised its military through European procurement and its own domestic industry. The EU and NATO remain central to its defence strategy, with Hungary participating in missions and joint capability projects. However, its foreign policy, which focuses on sovereignty, often complicates Allied cooperation. Threat perception in Hungary can be categorised as ‘yellow’.

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2026

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12TH SVOC International Conference

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