Everybody has to defend Hungary in case of an attack – here are the rules
How to defend Hungary in case of a foreign attack? Who can be drafted? Would all male citizens have to go to fight on the front lines? Who can remain at home or flee with their families? Here are the answers.
All Hungarians must defend Hungary
Like other countries, Hungary has different rules for peacetime and in an extreme situation. However, in the case of a foreign attack, all physically fit Hungarian male citizens become conscripts between the ages of 18 and 50.
In peacetime, volunteers are the basis of the Hungarian military system, a law accepted in 2004 states. They receive payment for their service. However, in a crisis, for example, if the country was attacked, everybody would have to defend Hungary. In Ukraine, every male citizen aged 18-60 has to defend the country. The only exceptions are those who raise at least three children. If they can prove that, the Ukrainian authorities allow them to leave the country even now, and it is up to them whether they return if their families are safe. Based on reports, many do so.
Of course, there are examples of opposite attitudes. We reported HERE that
a Hungarian citizen tried to smuggle out conscripts from Ukraine for 15,000 USD.
Furthermore, even the former Ukrainian prosecutor general tried to escape saying he had three kids in France. However, despite showing a photocopied document, the border guards did not believe him, nor did they let him leave. Meanwhile, most of the Transcarpathian Hungarians do not have to serve in the Ukrainian army. That is because they have Hungarian citizenship, as well.
An army of 2 million soldiers
In Hungary, you have to join the military in case of foreign attack if you are a male citizen and provided you are between 18 and 50. Interestingly, the age limit was 40 before, but the parliament raised it to 50 in 2018, blikk.hu reported.
The same applies in the case of, for example, natural disasters when the conscripts have to carry out disaster management tasks.
The Hungarian government highlighted several times that Hungary and the people living in the country are safe because they do not support any attempts to drag Hungary into war. With such statements, the government referred to the joint opposition, which would have allowed weapons and military equipment to cross Hungary towards Ukraine. The government believes such a decision would drag Hungary into war and make Transcarpathian Hungarians a target of Russian aggression.
It might be useful to know for foreign citizens that even if you have an address card in Hungary, but you are not a Hungarian citizen, you cannot be drafted.
The constitution clears that conscripted Hungarian citizens must defend the country with weapons in the case of a foreign attack.
Currently, Hungary could create an army of almost 2 million soldiers if all conscripts were drafted.
Featured image: illustration. A Ukrainian soldier shows Ukrainian citizens how to use different weapons.
Read alsoRussian disinformation campaign targets Hungarians in Transcarpathia?
Source: Blikk
5 Comments
Well, certainly not speaking for everyone but many of my distant relatives here are overweight mummy’s boys in their 40’s, I don’t think they’d be a whole lot of use
The Hungarian military (current authorized strength of about 30,0000) is inadequate to protect the country. Despite recent moves to modernize the military after 30 years+ of neglect, the Hungarian military is mostly armed with weapons from the last century. The country cannot be defended with 12 modern tanks, with 12 modern fixed wing combat planes and with 24 modern helicopters. Hungary has historically discouraged its population from owning firearms. Consequently, most Hungarians have no experience as to how to use weapons of any kind. Hungarian foreign policy has also managed to isolate the country from the EU and the US. Russia is not Hungary’s friend.
Hungary should not hold its breath trusting “everyone will protect the country”. It is not desirable to have the country destroyed by a war fought on its territory or its citizens killed in the name of protection. Hungary should just declare “NEUTRALITY”.
Hungary has always had a very wise foreign policy but being a member of Nato and UE means that every country should be trusted by the other ones in case of emergency.
If a country should decide to opt out in its own peculiar interest It could Do so but…
@mariavontheresa NATO has an agreement called Article V that states that an attack on a single NATO country is an attack on ALL Nato countries. Of Hungary were to be neutral and not part of Nato and Russia invaded anyway, Hungary is as good as gone because there would be no Article V. All of Nato is obligated by treaty to come to the aid, so if Russia attacks Hungary, you better believe American troops are coming in to help. Likewise, if Russia attacks Lithuania, you ALSO better believe that we are effectively in WW3 and Hungarian troops are getting drafted anyway for the common cause of Nato. Hungarians are strong with numbers and strong with being part of this alliance. Whether you like it or not, if Russia decides to go to war, we are all going to be in the middle of it, so it is best to prepare just in case for the worst, and hope for the best. Hungarians used to be such strong people that wouldn’t put up with bullies like Putin, so why are we weak now? It’s not 1956 anymore. They won’t leave us behind.