Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Hungary makes a notable contribution to the collective defense of its NATO allies.

After a meeting of NATO counterparts in Brussels on Thursday, Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky added that Europe, however, "must do more".

A ministry statement noted that Pete Hegseth, the new US Secretary of Defense, attended the meeting, and the minister stated Hungary's "firm support" for the US administration's position on the war in Ukraine, namely that "the bloodshed must end" and a solution to ending the war should be found as quickly as possible.

EU member states must cooperate with NATO as closely as possible on this, however, he said, adding that European NATO allies generally recognized that they must contribute more to Europe's defense both in terms of capabilities and industrial capacity, with the right level of financing.

"Hungary, as a reliable ally, will also fulfill its NATO commitment" on defense spending this year, the defense minister said, noting that the country started spending more than 2 percent of its GDP on defense in 2023 and increased this level last year.

Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Hungary actively took part in implementing common defense and deterrence goals, noting that the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) in Szekesfehervar achieved full operational capability last December, playing an important role in the command and control system of NATO's eastern flank.