Lt.-Gen. Frederick Ben Hodges, Commanding General, NATO Allied Land Command has paid a visit to Hungary.

During the two-day visit, the military leader paid a courtesy call to Lt.-Gen. Zoltán Orosz, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, and held discussions with Maj.-Gen. Sándor Fucsku, Commander, HDF Joint Force Command and with HDF Land Forces Chief Brig.-Gen. Gábor Böröndi.

The visit ended on July 9 with a press conference in Székesfehérvár, where the US general said that Hungary is a very important partner of  NATO, and that so far everybody he met has spoken very highly of the Hungarian troops who served in various operations abroad. He added that in his experience, here the HDF Joint Force Command does its best to make sure that Hungarian soldiers can be even more efficient members of the Alliance. 

While praising the Hungarian soldiers, the lieutenant-general said that currently six Hungarian officers are serving at the NATO Allied Land Command, and emphasized that he is satisfied with their work. He also said it was important to understand that apart from operations, the  soldiers serving with the land forces perform an essential activity, because they are the ones who protect our property and keep contact with citizens and leaders.   

Maj.-Gen. Sándor Fucsku noted that the US commander had visited Hungary for the first time since he fills this position. He pointed out that the lieutenant-general has a very important position in NATO, as he is responsible for preparing and supporting training and interoperability events which develop the Hungarian Defence Forces’ capability to cooperate with NATO member and partner countries.

“For this reason, it is important that we discuss those concepts which we will implement in the field of training together with our NATO allies in the coming years”, he said, adding that during Lt.-Gen. Hodges’ visit, they discussed the just mentioned joint exercises.

Brig.-Gen. Gábor Böröndi said that the joint work – which has been done over recent years on foreign missions and in Hungary, in cooperation with the organization led by the lieutenant-general – has borne fruits. 

“A visit like the present one is important also because the lieutenant-general can see before his very eyes that we are able to cooperate with partner countries and to plan and conduct joint training events with them”, he said, adding that the Hungarian soldiers have acquired the capability of interoperability, “there are no language barriers or obstacles of equipment”.

The NATO Allied Land Command is headquartered in Izmir, Turkey. As commanding general of the organization, Lt.-Gen. Frederick Ben Hodges is responsible for increasing the effectiveness of the land forces of NATO member countries and for the coordination of their immediate global deployability.

During his time in service as commanding general, Lt.-Gen. Hodges visits all 27 NATO allies – and nations participating in the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program – which have land forces. He holds discussions with military leaders, defence ministers and commanders of military organizations.

(Szabolcs Nyulas)