Hungary’s $1.1B NASAMS Deal Underscores Growing U.S. Defense Partnership

Washington, D.C. – The Hungarian Embassy in Washington hosted a high-level forum on Tuesday focused on strengthening defense industry cooperation between Central Europe and the United States. The event brought together representatives from numerous Hungarian and American defense companies, highlighting growing bilateral ties in the sector.

The discussion, titled “The Defense Industry in a New Era: Perspectives from Central Europe and the United States,” was jointly organized by the Claremont Institute, a U.S.-based political analysis center, and the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation of Hungary.

As host of the event, Szabolcs Takács, Hungary’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States, underscored the long-standing cooperation between the embassy and the Claremont Institute. He cited recent joint initiatives as evidence of deepening defense collaboration.

“Special Operations Craft-Riverine vessels from the United States have recently entered service in Hungary, accompanied by joint exercises on the Danube,”
Ambassador Takács noted.

The ambassador emphasized that the Trump administration has given new momentum to Hungarian–U.S. relations, with visible progress already emerging in recent months.

Takács stated that Hungary aligns with the current U.S. administration’s “peace through strength” foreign policy approach, which seeks to resolve global conflicts through deterrence and strategic capability. He added that achieving peace in Ukraine remains a top priority for Hungary and is now “within reach” given the changing international climate.

He also highlighted the United States’ critical role in Hungary’s ongoing defense modernization program. Among key acquisitions, Hungary has procured NASAMS Air Defense Systems and AMRAAM missiles from the United States and Norway, in a deal worth approximately $1.1 billion.