Orbán’s ‘territorial claims’ spur Slovak minister’s mandatory military training plan
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Slovakia’s Sports Minister, Rudolf Huliak, has proposed mandatory military training for all men over the age of 18, citing concerns over Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s policies and potential Hungarian territorial ambitions.
According to a Napunk.hu report, Huliak, a minister in the Fico-led government, stated that compulsory military training would not take place in traditional barracks but would be organised closer to participants’ homes.
The minister also expressed unease about “the Hungarian issue”, particularly Hungary’s increasing purchases of historical monuments in Slovakia. He views symbolic gestures by Viktor Orbán – such as wearing a scarf showing a map of Greater Hungary or references to revisiting the Treaty of Trianon borders – as warning signs that should be taken seriously by Slovakia.
“I read Orbán’s statements, and see that he wears a scarf depicting Greater Hungary, which includes Slovakia. There’s also talk of revisiting Trianon borders – these are signals we need to pay attention to,” Huliak added, saying the Slovak government must take such indications seriously.
He warned that Slovakia’s current situation is alarming because it lacks an air defence system. His proposal would require young men to complete at least three months of training after turning 18. Though expensive, he considers it essential. As a model, he envisions a military organisation similar to Switzerland’s.
Debates over Slovakia’s air defence
Huliak’s proposal has reignited discussions about Slovakia’s vulnerable air defences. President Peter Pellegrini described a recent drone incident in Poland as “very dangerous” and admitted that the country is practically “naked and defenceless”. Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák openly stated that Slovakia would likely be unable to respond to a similar event, as the previous government had transferred its MiG-29 fighter jets and S-300 system to Ukraine.
Former defence minister Jaroslav Naď, meanwhile, accused the current government of failing to use the Mantis air defence systems received from Germany, which are designed specifically to counter drone attacks.
Conscription returns across Europe
The war in Ukraine has brought the issue of military conscription back onto the agenda in several European countries.
Hungarians still dreaming of the past
That’s pretty mean.
Probably like anyplace, sometimes.
I can imagine the Slovak, Croatian, Romanian, Austrian (in the far East), Slovene, etc. perspectives and memories of the past are nuanced in various ways, too, back when Hungary was probably at its peak size as a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional empire (ca. 1867-1920).
I feel bad Kossuth never got to go home even tho he lived so long tho.