‘As part of the high-level meetings, Hungary and Türkiye also convened the first-ever session of the Hungarian–Turkish Consultation Mechanism, bringing together the foreign ministers, defence ministers and national security officials of both countries—a format Türkiye reserves only for its closest partners.’
Hungary has risen from sixth to second place among Israeli travel destinations, driven by public safety and Budapest’s pro-Israel policies. As Israeli tourism surges and travellers favour countries seen as friendly to Israel, Hungary is expected to welcome a record number of visitors this holiday season.
A high-level conference in Budapest on 24 November 2025 highlighted the growing strategic partnership between Israel and Central Europe. Hosted by the Europe Israel Press Association, it examined shifting Middle Eastern geopolitics, Europe’s security priorities, and disinformation undermining Israel’s right to self-defence.
‘“Within half a year, our bilateral relations gained new momentum, and the unsuccessful, troubled period may be replaced by a new American–Hungarian golden age,” wrote Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on his social media page after meeting Chargé d’Affaires Robert J Palladino of the US Embassy in Budapest, who is leaving the capital upon the expiration of his interim mandate.’
After a 16-year hiatus, Croatia is reintroducing mandatory military service—a move that several European countries have been considering amid growing security concerns across the continent. But what about Hungary?
‘The road to peace is still long…But for now, the most important thing is that the first phase of Trump’s peace plan has proven acceptable to both parties. For 48 Israeli families, their nightmare of the past two years may finally be coming to an end.’
France has summoned US Ambassador Charles Kushner after he publicly accused President Macron’s government of failing to stem a dramatic rise in antisemitism. In his letter, he spoke of street assaults, vandalized synagogues, and defaced schools—echoing data showing roughly 1,570 acts in 2024, a historic surge.
The Hungarian airline is planning to open a hub at Tel Aviv airport, but Israeli competitors may easily stand in its way. Executives of El Al have even lodged a complaint directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu against Wizz Air’s expansion.
In April, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visited Budapest amid international controversy over an ICC arrest warrant. Hungary, rejecting the court’s legitimacy, announced its withdrawal from the ICC, later formalized in May. The ICC has since launched non-compliance proceedings, while Hungary claims the court is politically biased and vows not to cooperate.
‘If the government of Israel continues to cause the expense and bureaucratic harassment for the granting of routine visas that for decades have been routine, I will have no other choice than to instruct our consular section to review options for reciprocal treatment of Israeli citizens seeking visas to the United States.’
After opposition led by Hungary, the EU has softened its stance on Israel despite growing calls for sanctions and trade restrictions.
At the NATO summit in The Hague, leaders pledged record defence spending—5 per cent of GDP by 2035—marking the biggest shift since the Cold War. While Ukraine saw little progress toward membership, Donald Trump stole the spotlight with military success and strong support from allies, reshaping the summit’s focus toward core defence.
Israel’s 12-day offensive against Iran aimed to derail Tehran’s nuclear ambitions—an effort ultimately reinforced by a decisive intervention from Donald Trump.
The 4iG Group and the Hungarian state-owned N7 Holding are jointly establishing Hungary’s first defence industry holding company with both state and private ownership. The new company is expected to boost competitiveness and increase defence exports.
European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef has proposed the exclusion of athletes from a country engaged in a legitimate war of self-defence against a terrorist organization. The EU was preparing further measures against Israel, although Hungary intervened.
Following a vote by a vast majority, Hungary can now officially withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli political and military leaders is facing growing scrutiny.
‘Tensions between the two sides do exist—even on strategic matters—and occasionally spill into public view. The key difference, especially compared to the Biden era, is that these leaks are not weaponized publicly. Instead, both parties swiftly work to defuse them.’
On 18 February 2025 Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Hungary at the invitation of President of the Republic of Hungary Tamás Sulyok. According to Sulyok, a strong Israel is essential both for the fight against antisemitism and for a secure future for the Middle East and Europe. The Hungarian head of state emphasized that there is an ongoing dialogue between Hungary and Israel and that there are no problematic issues.
Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, about two-third of Germany’s eight brigades were combat-ready. According to Head of the German Armed Forces Association Colonel Andre Wuestner, that figure has declined to roughly 50 per cent due to the export of weapons and equipment to Ukraine.
The sign of life the family received from Hungarian Israeli Omri Miran may have been a ray of hope to hold on to; nevertheless, Hamas’ threat has brought the ceasefire to the brink of collapse.
Along with the Hungarian commander, a Hungarian peacekeeping contingent was deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina with about 400 soldiers. The HDF provided an air search and rescue team, an air evacuation team, an artillery team with dog patrols, medical support (ROLE-1 level), as well as logistical support and supplies with 250 personnel.
During his joint press conference with his Hungarian counterpart in Budapest today, the Israeli Foreign Minister thanked Hungary for standing by Israel at international forums. The press conference also addressed the situation of the Hungarian hostage held captive by Hamas.
Hamas clearly used the hostage release as a shameless PR opportunity. The terrorist organization gathered a massive crowd in Gaza City’s central square, where uniformed Hamas militants staged a victory parade before handing over the three young women to the International Red Cross.
‘One of the key lessons of the exercise is that no situation is predetermined. Soldiers must respond to diverse scenarios with discipline, as every soldier is responsible not only for themselves but also for their comrades and the entire community,’ summarized Lieutenant Colonel Tibor Dancs, commander of the 31st rotation of the Hungarian KFOR contingent.
The Druze, a group historically loyal to the Assad regime in Syria, are facing growing threats due to the collapse of the central government and the deteriorating security situation. The Druze religious leadership in Israel is also very concerned about the fate of the Druze across the border, because jihadists in many Druze communities, mainly in Damascus and northern Syria, have already started demanding that the Druze hand over their weapons.
Subsequent to the anti-government rebels’ rapid advance that made President Bashar al-Assad depart from Syria, the Austrian government is planning to halt the processing of current Syrian asylum applications and to reassess previously granted asylum statuses. Additionally, family reunification programmes for Syrian refugees have been suspended.
‘The ceasefire is a development that aligns with the Trump administration’s anticipated foreign policy approach, which is expected to support Israel’s military objectives while facilitating diplomatic resolutions to regional conflicts. The ceasefire may also pave the way for expanding the Abraham Accords, with potential new agreements involving countries like Saudi Arabia.’
Reflecting the way the mainstream in the EU confronts the ongoing Gaza crisis, its outgoing foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has once again taken a hard line on Israel, proposing a suspension of EU–Israel political dialogue over humanitarian concerns. Known for his blunt criticisms of Israel, Borrell’s latest move aligns with his stance that the EU must hold Israel accountable, yet it may also be his last major act on the issue as he prepares to step down, making way for Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
The events of 7 October will forever be etched in Israel’s history as a day of immense tragedy and resilience. That day was a moment when the nation confronted the depths of brutality, but also discovered a strength it never knew it needed. Amid the profound loss and an escalating fight for the right to exist free from terror and fear, one message reverberates louder than ever: Israel will endure, and its people will not be broken.
Historically, so-called ‘October surprises’ have influenced election outcomes, particularly when they involve national security or military engagement that provides little room for candidates to respond and little time for voters to digest before heading to the polls. A broader conflict in the Middle East could become a significant liability for Harris’s campaign, especially if US forces get drawn into the fighting.