Germany and Hungary have agreed to reset military ties following a meeting between German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Hungarian counterpart Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi in Budapest. The two countries will prioritise collaboration on military logistics, defence-industry projects and joint training. The move builds on recent Hungarian purchases of German systems and new Rheinmetall manufacturing investments in Hungary. Budapest has also launched a broad probe into past defence contracts.
Germany and Hungary Announce Military Reset as Pistorius Visits Budapest
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (L) receives military honours at Heldenplatz from Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi. The visit focuses on discussions between the two ministers on cooperation in the defence sector. (is associated with: «Germany and Hungary agree military reset as Pistorius visits Budapest») Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Germany has moved to deepen military cooperation with Hungary's new government after a meeting in Budapest between German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and his Hungarian counterpart, Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi.
What the Ministers Agreed
Both ministers identified military logistics, defence-industry collaboration and joint training as priority areas for expanded ties. Pistorius described the meeting as a "restart" in bilateral relations, saying Berlin and Budapest are "growing politically closer together again."
Statements From Leaders
Ruszin-Szendi welcomed the renewed cooperation: "We will develop our armed forces together again. We are continuing the programmes we launched together," he said, also highlighting planned cooperation in the space industry. "We will be allies again. We will act as is expected of us and as we expect of our allies," he added.
FILE PHOTO - German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius sits on the government bench during the Bundestag session featuring questions to the government. (is associated with: «Germany and Hungary agree military reset as Pistorius visits Budapest») Michael Brandt/dpa
Background And Defence Industry Links
Hungary has pursued major procurement from German defence firms in recent years as part of a broader modernization of its armed forces. In 2018, Budapest ordered 44 Leopard 2 main battle tanks and 24 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (now part of KNDS). In 2020, Rheinmetall won a contract worth more than €2 billion ($2.28 billion) for the Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle.
Rheinmetall expanded production in Hungary in 2024, opening a Lynx manufacturing plant in Zalaegerszeg and an ammunition facility in Várpalota. The company has also taken a 25% stake in Hungarian conglomerate 4iG as part of its regional investments.
Accountability And Next Steps
Under Viktor Orbán's previous 16-year government, relations with some Western capitals were strained and critics accused his administration of favoring loyalists in defence-sector deals. At the Budapest meeting, Ruszin-Szendi confirmed a wide-ranging investigation into past defence procurement and contracts is under way but declined to pre-empt authorities.
The ministers said they would continue existing programmes and explore further collaboration in logistics, industrial partnerships and training exercises, framing the reset as beneficial for both countries and for NATO and the European Union as a whole.
Bottom line: Germany and Hungary are actively renewing defence cooperation, building on recent procurement and new German industrial investment in Hungary, while Budapest investigates past procurement practices.
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