“Implementing the Chicago Summit Decisions – a Hungarian Perspective”

As prepared for delivery

Mr. Speaker,
Minister Hende,
Madam Assistant Secretary General,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is a great honor for me to address the 16th NATO conference today in this distinguished audience. This annual event has become indeed a genuine tradition over the past one and a half decades. Today I would like to provide you with some insights how we see the implementation of the decisions taken by our Transatlantic Alliance in Chicago.

It is an old adage that the transatlantic link needs constant re-investment and re-commitment by all sides. Each and every NATO Summit serves this ultimate objective. Chicago was no exception: the North American venue was symbolic and its motto “NATO delivers” was a fitting reflection of the collective commitment to re-forge the transatlantic link and solidarity. This is all getting even more important when our nations, our transatlantic community as a whole are going through an unprecedented economic-financial crisis that puts our solidarity and cohesion to the test.

The Chicago Summit served as a stocktaking opportunity to discuss the “state of the Alliance”, the implementation of the decisions previously taken in Lisbon, especially the Strategic Concept. But going beyond mottos any symbolism, crucial decisions have also been taken both to strengthen the transatlantic link and to promote the core functions of the Alliance.

We understand the reasons behind the growing U.S. attention towards the Asia and Pacific region. Ultimately, it also serves our security, but it should not result in “less Europe”. In Chicago we were reassured by the re-confirmed salience of NATO in addressing new global challenges, the continuing presence of U.S. forces in Europe and the visible American commitments to uphold Article 5. The US decision to keep combat-ready brigade size forces in Europe are most reassuring to all of us. Live military exercises in the coming years will certainly contribute to deterrence and visible assurance. All European Allies will benefit from the joint military training opportunities. This is going to be even more important in the future as the current high tempo of operations is gradually winding down.

I am quite convinced that I do not have to explain why it is in our vital interest to maintain a credible US security engagement in Europe. As part of this enduring US security commitment and reinvestment into the Alliance, the U.S. Missile Defense system came under full NATO umbrella in Chicago, making the collective security of the two sides of the Atlantic even more inseparable. This new third pillar complements but does not substitute for the conventional and nuclear elements of our deterrence. Chicago has also reconfirmed NATO’s openness for cooperation concerning Missile Defense with Russia, maintaining the concept of two autonomous, parallel missile defense systems – an approach we continue to fully support.

The present financial crisis is a wake-up call to Europe. It is up to us, Europeans to rise to this challenge. I am convinced that we have charted the right path in Chicago concerning defense capabilities with a horizon of 2020 and beyond. Multifaceted initiatives with “smart defense” at their hearts will ensure that the Alliance have modern and connected forces. These forces will be well equipped and trained, exercised and commanded so that they can undertake any missions described in the Strategic Concept, operating together and with partners. Regional and multinational cooperation within NATO and the EU, like the Visegrád framework, could be a contribution to “smart defense” and smaller Allies can “pool and share” valuable capabilities. Exciting ideas have been raised at the Summit, they need to be further explored concerning specialization within the Alliance.

The vision adopted in Chicago strikes a reasonable balance between expeditionary, and Article 5 collective defense capabilities even after major military operations have wound down in Afghanistan. (I am sure Minister Hende will touch upon this subject and elaborate how Hungary will contribute to its implementation).

Through these steps collective defense has been bolstered and I believe that the message from Chicago was loud and clear: NATO remains the cornerstone of our security. These decisions underpin that the Alliance could not be perceived by any new or old players in this dangerous world as abandoning or backpedalling on the Strategic Concept or its collective commitment to its members. Considering the raging armed internal conflict in the immediate vicinity of the south-eastern flank of NATO, which is already directly impacting one of our Allies, this preoccupation and vigilance seem to be well justified. Solidarity with our Allies is not an empty word.

Matching NATO’s political ambition set by the Strategic Concept with the necessary means is going to be an arduous and long task. I believe that all European Allies are very much conscious of the strains still being placed on the transatlantic link in this respect. The famous or infamous “transatlantic bargain” – I would rather call it consensus building – needs to be constantly renewed. The messages conveyed by President Obama at the Summit and shared around the table have been solemn and sincere: we all have to do more with less. This means that the European Allies should undertake more responsibility and burdens with limited financial means to keep the US interested and engaged. We have already heard the reassuring messages from the incoming old-new US Administration about the continuing and even reinforced engagement vis-à-vis the European members of the Transatlantic Family.

Each NATO Summit paves the way for the next one. One of the most important Chicago deliverable for Hungary was the reconfirmation of NATO’s “open door policy”. We are grateful for Secretary of State Clinton’s remarks describing Chicago as the “last summit without enlargement”. Stemming from our own experience and also that of the entire region we all know how important it is to maintain the momentum of enlargement and to preserve the perspective of membership for aspirant countries. Enlargement is also about NATO’s credibility, so we look forward to living up to this commitment and taking concrete decisions at the next “regular” NATO Summit, probably already in 2014. We expect to be in the position to invite one or more countries fulfilling the membership criteria to start accession talks with the Alliance. In this respect Hungary has an enduring interest concerning the Western Balkans and continues to assist all aspirants. We see success stories – l must highlight Montenegro – and we also see those who need further encouragement and support. Looking beyond our region I should also emphasize that enlargement must remain a business strictly for NATO and the aspirant country with absolutely no “droit de regard” by any third party.

In Chicago, Allies and partner countries shouldering the efforts in ISAF reaffirmed their collective commitment concerning Afghanistan. The timeline envisaged and the transition calendar both look feasible, the 2013 “milestone”, when Afghan forces will be in the lead for security nationwide, can be met. So we expect our next summit to successfully finish the last chapter of Afghan transition, declare the present operation accomplished and also launch our post-ISAF NATO-led mission, focusing on training, advice and assistance. Hungary, as we have said many times, will remain engaged beyond the phasing out of the Hungarian-led PRT in Baghlan in next March. Our troops are already undertaking the force protection duties of the Kabul international airport and our contribution will continue to encompass trainers, mentors as well as special operations forces. Afghanistan, however, remains a common responsibility for all Allies as well as for all regional and many international actors.

NATO’s developing network of partnership with its global outreach was eloquently demonstrated by the Allies’ meeting with 13 distinguished partner countries, coming from the Euro-Atlantic region through the Middle-East across the globe to Asia. As envisaged by the Strategic Concept, the Alliance is truly becoming a “global hub” of partnerships. This is good for NATO, good for the partner country, and good for global security. Without neglecting existing Euro-Atlantic partnerships there are special merits in further developing our relationship with like-minded democracies across the globe. We have a lot to share and lot to learn.

We also see the benefits of engaging emerging powers in substance-driven dialogue along mutual interests, especially concerning the topic of “global commons”. As the example of the Budapest Conference on Cyberspace, held in October demonstrated, these are issues where smaller members of the Alliance could make their meaningful contribution, also beyond the world-wide web and cyber security.

Let me finish by recalling the importance of public awareness for security in the member states. Chicago helped a lot in raising NATO’s profile and explaining the public the Alliance’s tasks, roles and responsibilities. NATO is a lot more than the sum of its members, but every member state has to contribute also in this regard. In this vein I am convinced, Madam Assistant Secretary General, that your presence here today will help us better address this special challenge.

Thank you for your attention and let me wish you all an excellent, thought-provoking conference.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)