Hungary to host EU’s largest military exercise

MILEX 2025, the European Union’s largest military exercise, will be held in Hungary from March 25 to April 10 to test land operation capabilities of the EU’s battle groups, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry said the exercises are to test the rapid response and coordination capabilities of participating countries in a live setting. They will take place at the Pápa Air Base and the Central Shooting and Training Range, where the battle group’s readiness will be tested with live fire and tactical maneuvers.

Ferenc Kajári, the deputy chief of staff of the Hungarian armed forces, said participation in the exercise was also “an expression of Hungary’s commitment to strengthening the defence capabilities of the EU”. “The effectiveness of rapid response and cooperation will be crucial in tackling future security challenges,” Kajari added.

Fully 900 troops from Hungary, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Spain, France, Croatia, Lithuania, and Latvia will participate under a EUROCORPS command.

As we wrote a week ago, Hungary withholds support for EU’s 800 billion euro defense plan

New EU Defense Strategy

On Wednesday, the European Commission presented the long-awaited document referred to as the “White Paper,” considered an expansion of the ReArm Europe proposal, according to Euronews. The plan aims to free up as much as EUR 800 billion for defense spending over the next four years. Although the Commission has outlined in detail which areas and how they intend to direct these funds, the specifics regarding joint financing options have not yet been clarified.

The proposal’s main objective is for Member States to support the defense industry and carry out joint procurements from a fund totaling several hundred billion euros before the end of the year. Two weeks ago, the Commission introduced the ReArm Europe concept, suggesting that through large-scale, combined orders and joint purchases of military equipment, up to EUR 800 billion could be mobilized.

The Commission primarily invokes the “national safeguard clause” of the Stability and Growth Pact to offer Member States fiscal leeway. This move would allow them to invest additional resources in defense, even if debt and budget deficits exceed the 3% of GDP threshold set by current regulations. According to an anonymous EU official, the Commission expects all 27 Member States to request the activation of the safeguard clause by April, hoping to complete the approval process before the summer recess.

At the same time, the introduction of SAFE instruments is taking shape: the Commission aims to facilitate EUR 150 billion in loans raised on the capital markets. Member States would then need to repay this loan, but decision-making might be faster, as the Commission believes the loan terms are clear and straightforward.

The Commission also notes that, through joint efforts, Member States would be able to manufacture and procure in large volumes the key elements of modern defense:

• Air and missile defense systems
• Artillery systems
• Ammunition and missiles
• Drones and anti-drone systems
• Cyber and electronic warfare tools
• AI-based defense solutions
• Strategically important military infrastructure

The clearly stated goal is for the EU to be able to respond rapidly to crises anywhere in the world without relying on external suppliers or resources.

What does the future hold?

While the White Paper’s core proposals hint at immense possibilities, the main challenge remains achieving consensus among Member States and testing the flexibility of EU-level budgetary rules. The SAFE instruments, which could enable joint financing, together with the safeguard clause in the Stability and Growth Pact, may offer some leeway. However, harmonizing national interests and diverse economic situations is no simple matter. The Commission’s clear intention is to establish a legal framework for joint defense investments before the summer and begin coordinating procurements. How quickly and smoothly this progresses, and how much actual funding will ultimately be available, largely depends on individual Member States and potential geopolitical factors. One thing is certain: EU defense integration has gained momentum not seen in decades.

Hungarian air defence artillerymen at NATO’s Largest Air Defence Exercise

According to Defence.hu, in the midst of current security challenges, it is vital that Hungary be able to conduct air policing and defend its airspace efficiently and in an integrated way. NATO capabilities development and strengthening cooperation among member states are indispensable for guaranteeing collective defence – declared the Chief of HDF Defence Staff at the military base near Vredepeel, Netherlands, where in the last few days, he was informed in person about NATO’s largest air defence exercise and the tasks of the participating Hungarian contingent.

The NATO integrated air and missile defence exercise, codenamed Joint Project Optic Windmill 2025, is being held between 16 and 26 March, with the participation of 15 allied countries, including the two new member states, Finland and Sweden. It is also new that the German Air Force has involved the outstandingly effective IRIS-T SLM medium-range surface-to-air missile system in the exercise for the first time.