On September 24, 2026, Hungarian policy-makers, think tankers and analysts across the board in foreign, security and defence policy gathered at Ludovika University of Public Service for an expert workshop organised by the Research Programme in Strategy and Defence of the John Lukacs Institute for Strategy and Politics to discuss the current challenges and upcoming steps of Hungarian foreign, security and defence policy.
The roundtable discussion that also welcomed representatives from allied countries, provided an opportunity to exchange views on the legacy of the Orbán government after 16 years in power, and offered an assessment of the state of affairs and the plausible ways forward in foreign, security and defence policy. An additional goal of the workshop was also to establish a professional dialogue that channels into the diplomatic and political exchange among Hungary’s NATO and EU allies.
The first session on foreign and security policy highlighted significant momentum for renewal, constructive engagement and trust building in all relations, also pointing out important institutional and policy benchmarks to be considered to yield success in the coming months.
The second session, focusing specifically on defence, emphasized the unfinished nature of the comprehensive armed forces and defence industry development programs that Hungary has been undertaking in the past decade, calling attention to the need to provide for adequate resourcing, strategy-building, policy management and the necessary manpower in the coming years.
Text: Tamás Csiki Varga
Photos: Benjámin Mészáros