“The most important thing is peace!” With these words, Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky opened the first Budapest Security Dialogue (BSD) on Friday. The new format, which was deliberately not designed as a counterpart to the Munich Security Conference, with a clear focus on Central and Southeastern Europe in Hungary’s capital, met with a great response.
Hungary’s defense minister supplemented his appeal for peace as a greeting to the participants of the BSD congress with the regret that today the whole world, but especially Europe, has fallen into a “strange war fever”. “Everyone talks regarding war, when peace is our greatest good.” The BSD Congress draws attention to the fact that Europe must be able to protect itself. On this extremely relevant question, Central Europe and the Western Balkans in particular must articulate their position.
The ministerial meeting of the Central European Defense Cooperation (CEDC) with its counterparts from the six Balkan states, which also took place in Budapest the day before, was to be understood in this spirit. “We must see ourselves in this region as one big family capable of protecting peace,” said Szalay-Bobrovniczky.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky: “We cannot afford to be weak”
Unfortunately, the world is always regarding the rivalries of the great powers. Because economic power is shifting from West to East, the emergence of large states is leading to geopolitical tensions. These processes are accompanied by the threat of new blocs forming. This is certainly not in Hungary’s interest, although it would like to see itself as the “engine” of a security dialogue.
In the Ukraine war, the West reached a critical point by deciding to globalize the conflict. At the same time, the Russian aggressor has pumped up his military machine to such an extent that it is now impossible to see who can still stop this power. The open conflict poses a risk of escalation at any moment. On this occasion, the Defense Minister reiterated the well-known position of the Hungarian government that there was no alternative to an immediate ceasefire followed by peace negotiations. Meanwhile, all steps in the Middle East conflict must be chosen carefully and with a sense of responsibility.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasized that Hungary cannot afford to be weak, especially as a member of NATO. That is why, since 2010, the country has systematically broken down the outdated structures of its Soviet-era army and developed a high-tech force with NATO compatibility.
EU stopped at Croatia
The new equipment of the Hungarian Army (MH) is increasingly relying on its own arms industry, emphasized the CEO of the state-owned N7 Holding Zrt., László Palkovics. His company bundles innovations in the defense sector, which Hungary also wants to see as the engine of the economy. The corresponding capacities should create the conditions to guarantee national security. In addition, the country wants to gain presence on the international market and integrate into the supply chains.
Slovakian Defense Minister Robert Kalinák warned that the EU integration of the Western Balkans was not progressing fast enough. It is known that the CEDC is committed to this integration in the interests of peace and stability in the region, but the EU has only implemented its commitments made in 2003 with regard to Croatia. He named the approach of concentrating solely on topics on which there is agreement as the key to today’s optimal cooperation between neighbors Slovakia and Hungary.
Successful launch event
Although it is the first event of its kind, the BSD immediately received a considerable audience response. At the “Hungarian Defense Innovation Night” reception in the Royal Riding Hall at Buda Castle on Thursday evening, the BSD welcomed more than 300 guests to network and get to know each other. Around 400 participants were expected for the congress on Friday, but in the end more than 700 (!) accepted the invitation. The list of speakers included five defense ministers, several state secretaries, five high-ranking representatives of the EU Commission and 18 representatives of well-known international and German defense companies. There hasn’t been such a high-profile event on security and defense policy in Budapest for a long time.
BSD-Kongressmotto: „Budapest Building Bridges“
“We obviously met a very real need for exchange and networking in the region with our event,” summarized Wolf Illner, managing director of the organizer BSD, with satisfaction. He and his co-managing director Dr. were particularly pleased. Arne Gobert said that all high-ranking speakers always welcomed the opportunity to hold discussions on the sidelines of the congress.
“We are sure that with the Budapest Security Dialogue we have successfully contributed to increasing Hungary’s reputation in Europe, breaking down existing prejudices and creating a platform for communication. This was also the motto of the congress: Budapest Building Bridges.”
BSD partner country 2025: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Now that the question of the right to exist has been answered by itself following this successful pilot event, the organizers are even more determined to plan the next congress. This will take place on the 9th/10th. April 2025 will take place once more in Budapest. Bosnia and Herzegovina was won as a partner country in 2025 following discussions with Defense Minister Zukan Helez. However, preparing the next BSD congress will not be the BSD team’s only major task in the coming months.
As part of the Hungarian Council Presidency, on 9/10 The European Defense Drone Conference (EDDC) will take place in Budapest for the first time in October in cooperation with the EU Commission and will be established there as an annual event. A “BSD on Tour” event in Sarajevo as part of the Budapest Security Dialogue 2025 partnership is also being discussed.
Here you can find a BZ interview with Wolf Illner that we conducted with him before the event.
And here you can find the organizer’s website.
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