Croatia and Hungary Strengthen Defense Cooperation Amid Regional Security Challenges
Croatia and Hungary agreed to deepen defense and industrial cooperation, with Budapest continuing to secure Croatian airspace until new Rafales arrive, emphasizing joint efforts to strengthen Central and Southeast Europe’s security.
Zagreb – Croatia and Hungary have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral defense cooperation, with Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasizing that one of Hungary’s key strategic tasks remains the protection of Croatian airspace until Zagreb’s new Rafale fighter jets become fully operational.
During his visit to Zagreb, Szalay-Bobrovniczky met with Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić, where the two agreed that enhancing bilateral defense ties is a shared priority for both countries.
“Strengthening the defense industry and reinforcing the eastern flank are key focuses for Hungary,” said Szalay-Bobrovniczky. “Cooperation between Croatia and Hungary is of special importance for the security of Central Europe,” he added, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
Minister Anušić underscored the growing importance of defense collaboration with Hungary, highlighting efforts to expand both military cooperation and trade between the two nations’ defense industries.
“We are working to strengthen our bilateral cooperation and trade exchange between our defense industries, and we have already taken the first concrete steps,” Anušić said.
Writing on social media platform X, Anušić noted that Croatia views Hungary — a fellow NATO and EU member state— as a key partner in achieving a “new level of bilateral defense cooperation through additional joint activities of our armed forces.”
He also pointed to joint ambitions in defense industry collaboration, saying the goal is to boost European weapons production and reinforce stability and security across Southeast Europe.
Anušić briefed his Hungarian counterpart on ongoing crises and instability sources in the region’s southeast and reaffirmed Croatia’s continued assistance to Ukraine.
The Hungarian minister is on a multi-day official visit to Croatia, reflecting a broader regional trend of tightening defense partnerships within NATO’s eastern and southeastern flanks as Europe adapts to an evolving security landscape.
