We are experiencing interesting times with everything in motion. There are changes in our closer and wider environment, as a result of which we ourselves are also changing. The real surprise, however, is not the change itself, but its pace. Three years ago we were preparing for NATO-membership and shortly after our accession we found ourselves in the first out-of-area NATO-operation, „Operation Allied Force”. Nowadays, as full-fledged members of the Alliance, we have to be contemplating the way ahead and the kind of scenarios of enlargement we deem possible and feasible in the spirit of the „open door” policy.

Every competent opinion led us to believe that we are living in a world stripped of the devil of a global war, a world that is safer than before, but the terrorist attack on the United States of America on September 11^th, 2001 struck as lightning. We knew and advocated that international terrorism was a serious challenge of the future; still we could not believe that such a thing could happen this way, claiming thousands of lives. This was a warning sign that besides all the positive results that globalisation brings to the world, there will be a need to face challenges which question fundamental values, among others our right to live in a world without fear.

Global challenges require global response. The most important actors of the world political scene do have common interests, such as responding to international terrorism, stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or peacekeeping missions, which make joint action a possible and viable solution. As a result of the terrorist attacks in September, an intensive process of thinking has picked up, which would aim to define how NATO and its common defence posture should adapt to the changing world.

As a politico-military alliance NATO today is just as relevant as it was at the time of its foundation. It is true that today we are living in a completely different world and NATO also has to meet challenges which are different from those that the founders might have foreseen. Common defence capabilities, which are based on the contribution of the member states – including Hungary –, will most probably be needed in the future. As much as we can forecast, it can safely be said, that the Republic of Hungary, future members and their armed forces will unfortunately have a lot of time to give proof of their allegiance, to reiterate their individual and collective commitment to strengthen and maintain international peace and security.

Let everyone reading this publication be conscious of the fact that they live in and form a period of time, which historically might be minute, but is very interesting. When we talk about NATO and its armed forces, let us never forget that we are also talking about ourselves. We should not be outside observers, but should view ourselves and our allies as the ones who consciously and actively contribute to the evolution of a process.

József Bali
Ministry of Defence
Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy