Government wants to continue strengthening intelligence services

Hungary’s intelligence services carry special responsibility in the current situation, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Thursday, arguing that it was their job to stave off attempts to undermine Hungary’s security or drag the country into the conflict.

The government expects the intelligence agencies to fulfil those responsibilities and fend off attempts against the country, Szijjártó said at the inauguration of a new wing of the headquarters of the Information Office (IH), Hungary’s civilian intelligence agency.

“The developments undertaken in recent years and the level of preparedness of intelligence personnel make us hopeful that the Hungarian intelligence community is capable of fulfilling these very important responsibilities,”

he said.

Because of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, the task of guaranteeing Hungary’s security now takes priority “over every goal, issue and task”, he said. This, Szijjártó said, was a prerequisite for preserving Hungary’s freedom and sovereignty.

Hungary’s government has significantly strengthened its intelligence services,

their resources and institutional system over the past four years, the minister said, adding that the state had the necessary funds available for further upgrades. Those, he said would include the creation of an IH crisis management centre and the establishment of an intelligence academy.