Simicskó: Government planning to recruit another 15,000 volunteers

Budapest, January 26 (MTI) – Hungary needs a volunteer force of 20,000 to complete its military, the defence minister said in an interview to weekly Figyelő, published on Thursday.

In his interview, István Simicskó said that the military currently has some 30,000 soldiers and 5,500 voluntary reserve officers. He insisted that the volunteer force, with “actual capabilities” and the military together should make “a deterrent, combat-ready army”.

Reviving the Hungarian defence industry is a high priority for the government, Simicskó said. He added that preparations are under way to start production of infantry weapons such as guns and rifles as early as next year.

Simicskó said that the government was gradually increasing Hungary’s defence spending, and added that the NATO target of 2 percent of GDP could be reached in 10 years.

Source: MTI