In 2008-2009, one of Hungary’s most successful military missions took place in Bhaglan Province, Afghanistan. That mission was led by Zsolt Sándor, Hungary’s current ambassador to Athens, who gave an interview to NE Global about the Hungarian mission in Afghanistan, his involvement in the war-torn country and how he sees the Hungarian EU Presidency.
Before moving from the armed forces to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Affairs, Sándor spent a tour in Afghanistan in 2008-2009, where his unit took over the dangerous task from the previous Hungarian contingent (commanded by his brother).
Hungary took over the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Baghlan province from the Dutch in 2006 to help maintain peace and security in the region, including supporting and training the local police and Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
The biggest impact on local society, he says, was the PRT’s project to build a wall around the school that would allow Afghan women to be educated.
Since Afghanistan withdrawal, school’s out for girls
Unfortunately, the oppression of women in Afghanistan has worsened since the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 and the resulting forced regime change in the country. Since regaining power, the Taliban have restricted women’s freedoms, including banning girls from attending classes beyond the sixth grade.
“What I still see today as the most successful mission for PRT 5, which may be very small in terms of the size and resources we spent, but had the biggest impact on local society, was building a wall so that a girls’ school could open in Afghanistan,” he told NE Global.
Sándor also shared his thoughts on Hungary’s current presidency of the EU. From July 1, until the end of 2024, Hungary holds the rotating consecutive Presidency of the European Council, in the program of which it must offer answers and solutions to many problems threatening Europe, he said.
Developing a European defense policy
The Presidency’s program includes a number of items that are of great importance in the context of the previous mission in Afghanistan, such as the development of a European defense policy and the fight against illegal migration and terrorism, Sándor said. In the light of the events of recent weeks, it is also important to answer questions relating to border protection, as the European Union must also act in a unified manner in this area, Sándor argued, adding that the two wars/conflicts in the EU’s neighborhood also highlight that the European defense industry needs development as soon as possible.
“Today, the European Union is facing a number of problems, such as weakening competitiveness indicators, climate change or demographic problems, which are a serious burden for the whole continent. These must also be addressed as a matter of priority, but we must not forget the threats that are taking place right next door. There are also two ongoing wars that underline the fact that the security situation in Europe has changed and needs to be addressed. The current European defense industry needs many improvements and innovations as it contributes to regional security,” he stressed.
Sándor postulated that the Hungarian EU Presidency offers obvious solutions to improve the security situation, one of which is the continuation of the EU’s Enlargement policy. “Consistency in the Enlargement policy is essential because the confidence of the future EU member states is paramount. The candidate countries want to become members of the EU, and for the EU this is one of the most important guarantees of European security,” he said.
The Ambassador reminded that in 2013, Croatia was the last to join the EU, but many countries are still in the process of joining, especially Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. He stressed that Hungary is committed to moving the Enlargement process forward and will provide all the support it can from the EU during the cycle of the Presidency.
Lessons from the Afghan crisis in illegal migration
Sándor opined that EU Enlargement is important in terms of curbing illegal migration, but the Hungarian EU Presidency does not see the problem only at Europe’s borders. In Afghanistan, the Taliban took power in 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region, leaving many Afghan refugees seeking a better life in Europe. “It is clear that the European Union has an interest in maintaining stability in other regions of the world, as this is also an important means of curbing illegal migration. Hungary sees a very important problem in the Sahel region and has taken steps to send a Hungarian military mission to Chad,” he said.
The Ambassador recalled that in the beginning of September Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has held talks with the President of the Republic of Chad, Itno Mahamat Idriss Déby, who was on a two-day official visit at Budapest. Hungary is building a cooperation partnership with Chad; these are the main topics of the official negotiations, Sándor said, adding that other issues on the agenda include the joint fight against international terrorism, the exchange of experience and knowledge in the field of defense, and the possibility of mutual training and joint operations.
The Hungarian diplomat also recalled the start of his country’s EU Presidency when Orbán took part in a “peace mission.” Orban’s one-man mission without the backing of Brussels, which included talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump while Orban was already able to travel across the U.S. for the July NATO Summit, as well as the leaders of Russia and China, was widely criticized by EU member states and also raised eyebrows in American Democratic Party circles.
Sándor said Hungary continues to call for an immediate ceasefire and peace talks in Ukraine. “The world is witnessing a blocking process that threatens peace and diplomatic relations,” he said, adding, “Hungary’s position is that negotiations and diplomacy are needed, Europe should not be isolated.”
