NATO Central European Multi-National Division Command deployed to Hungary reached full operational capability

“Strength is reflected not only in arms and numbers, but also in the readiness and will to defend what we value highly,” Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the defence minister, said on Monday in Székesfehérvár, in western Hungary, at an event marking the full operational capability of the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C).

Hungary, Croatia and Slovakia “have come a long way together” since raising the idea to set up a multinational division headquarters in central Europe “to make up for deficiencies in command and control” in the region, he said.

By achieving full operational capability, the headquarters is ready and will be able to participate in the command and control of NATO operations in the region in the event of any potential crisis or conflict, the minister said. “This increases deterrence and rapid response capabilities, ensuring an immediate and coordinated response in the event of a threat,” he added.

He said central Europe was not merely a part of NATO’s eastern flank but the geographical meeting-point of north, south, east and west.

Radmila Shekerinska, NATO’s deputy secretary general, said reaching full operational capability was “a milestone” in NATO history. She said that the command centre had a “critical role to play” in defending the alliance’s eastern flank, ensuring peace and security to one billion people.

Robert Kalinak, Slovakia’s deputy PM who is also the defence minister, referred to the “very unstable and unpredictable geopolitical situation” which he said made the cooperation of the three countries “vitally important”.

Tomislav Galic, Croatia’s state secretary of defence, said the full operational capability had created “the sort of security which must not be underestimated, but utilised and further strengthened”.