European leaders have reached a landmark agreement—Hungary is set to receive a massive influx of funds for military development, along with a flood of new orders for its defense industry. Meanwhile, the EU also threw in some boilerplate rhetoric about Ukraine, which Prime Minister Viktor Orbán promptly vetoed.
For years, European elites have preached about the need for a common defense strategy, a stronger military industry, and real strategic autonomy. On Thursday night in Brussels, they finally got their wish. The EU’s newly approved defense package marks the most decisive move the bloc has made in years—comparable, perhaps, to forcing Apple to bow to EU regulations or mandating USB-C ports.
Now, Europe is taking its military future into its own hands. The plan is straightforward: member states can ramp up defense spending without triggering budget deficit penalties, giving them room to invest in their armed forces without Brussels breathing down their necks. Additionally, the EU is rolling out a €150 billion credit line for military projects—not a joint loan, but a financial boost that ensures European money strengthens European industries rather than benefiting foreign competitors.
For Hungary, this is a triple victory: it dodges excessive deficit procedures, secures fresh EU funds for military expansion, and stands to gain immensely as European defense investments skyrocket. After all, Germany’s military industry has steadily shifted production to Hungary in recent years, positioning the country as a key player in Europe’s defense sector.
All 27 EU nations, including Hungary, signed onto the deal, which even incorporated efforts from Hungarian diplomats. The message? European unity isn’t just a feel-good slogan—it’s working for a cause that actually matters.
As for Ukraine, leaders added the usual pledges of “political, financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support,” alongside promises to tighten sanctions on Russia. Orbán wasn’t having it. While Slovakia’s Robert Fico played along after being offered minor concessions, Hungary refused to back an outdated, ideological stance that ignores shifting global realities.
The West is moving on. The EU’s predictable statements on Ukraine are increasingly ignored by everyone except the most zealous Eurocrats. Even within the bloc, Hungary remains the only country willing to ask its citizens—through a planned referendum—what they actually think.
For now, the EU has taken a major step in the right direction, prioritizing European defense and economic sovereignty. The rest? Just background noise.
