Hungary and Spain’s defence cooperation as NATO allies was highlighted at a Budapest reception marking Spain’s National Day. Colonel General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of the Hungarian Defence Staff, represented the Hungarian Defence Forces.
Spain marks its National Day on October 12, commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus’s expedition in the Americas in 1492. The country declared October 12 a national holiday in 1987. Sándor said cooperation between Hungary and Spain continued to advance and described Spain as a reliable and strong ally.
Both countries are members of NATO and the European Union and take part in the alliance’s collective defence. Sándor said the presence, readiness and ability of allied forces to work together help strengthen security on NATO’s eastern flank.
A land-force cooperation example is NATO’s multinational forward land force battlegroup in Slovakia, which includes Spanish units. Spanish troops serving in the region tested their skills in May at the Strong Lineage 2026 exercise in Bakony.
In 2025, the Hungarian and Spanish air forces took part at the same time in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. Hungarian Gripen and Spanish Eurofighter aircraft operated under NATO command from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, helping protect the airspace of the Baltic states.
The Budapest reception provided an opportunity both to mark a historic anniversary and to reaffirm ties between Hungary and Spain and their cooperation within NATO. The source said military readiness, exchanges of experience and cooperation remain important in responding to shared security challenges.
