NATO 75 conference on Hungary and the Future of NATO in Budapest
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NATO 75—Hungary and the Future of NATO was the title of an international conference organised by the Hungarian Institute of Foreign Affairs (HIIA) on 19 September 2024 at Matild Palace in Budapest.
Dr. Gladden Pappin, President of HIIA, delivered the opening speech. He said, “The NATO Alliance must prepare for the future by strengthening its defence capabilities and strategic autonomy while promoting peace and connectivity wherever possible. We are not interested in completely severing ties with the world’s great powers.”
Benedetta Berti, Head of the Strategic Planning Unit of the NATO Secretary General, continued the opening remarks, taking part in the conference online. “We live in an increasingly interdependent world, where instability can rear its head in our neighbourhood. As we face an increasingly complex war, we need to maintain security while at the same time dealing with non-military threats, from disinformation to cyber-attacks. NATO is working to build strong resilience in all areas.” – she stressed.
The conference’s first session, “Can NATO keep the peace?” was a panel discussion on NATO’s role in the next decade. Elizabeta Chupovska Ristova, Minister of State for Defence of North Macedonia, pointed out, “We need to work together to develop the capacity of our personnel, as well as to build new partnerships and strengthen regional cooperation.”
Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy, said:
“If we do not invest in developing the military awareness of the new generations, we could face serious problems in peacetime because there will not be enough people joining the army. And in times of conflict, this is an even more serious problem, as young people will not be adequately prepared to defend their country.”
Retired Lieutenant General Bertrand de La Chesnais, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the French Army, stressed that “France’s historic position is that NATO must remain a purely defensive influence and not become an organisation for peace restoration.”
Walter Feichtinger, President of the Austrian Center for Strategic Analysis, stressed that “NATO must have a global perspective, and in today’s strategic environment, it needs one. But the Alliance was created primarily to guarantee the security of the Euro-Atlantic area.”
In a discussion on the past, present, and future of Hungarian defence, Márton Ugrósdy, Deputy State Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, said,
“It is difficult to find the right people to defend our country, to operate the various vehicles, equipment, and weapons, but the most daunting and difficult question is how to take care of the injured. How do we reintegrate them back into society with their lifelong injuries? How do we help them find work, and most importantly, how do we help them process their trauma?”