Hungary would consider providing military assistance to the United States in the Hormuz Strait if requested by Donald Trump, according to a government official. The statement comes as concerns grow about potential escalation in the Middle East following recent actions by the U.S. And Israel against Iran.
Gergely Gulyás, the minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, said Thursday that while Trump has not yet made such a request, “if he were to inquire, we would consider it.” However, Gulyás emphasized that the government is not currently addressing the issue. This potential willingness to assist highlights Hungary’s position within the NATO alliance and its relationship with the U.S.
As a NATO member, Hungary acknowledges that any request for assistance would first need to come through the alliance, with NATO Secretary-General responding accordingly. Gulyás stated the government is not engaging with “hypothetical requests” at this time.
Gulyás also noted that any contribution to securing the Hormuz Strait would likely come from nations with naval fleets, suggesting Hungary’s military capabilities are not suited for such an operation. He added that Hungary would take a position on military involvement “if the question arises within NATO.”
The comments from Gulyás were shared on Facebook by Péter Magyar, the leader of the Tisza Party, who wrote, “Gergely Gulyás said today at the government briefing that if the American president asks, they will consider helping America in the Iranian war. In Hungarian, this means that Orbán would send Hungarian soldiers to war if Donald Trump asked him to.” See the Facebook post here.
The Hungarian government has not condemned the recent military actions taken by the United States and Israel against Iran. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Wednesday, in an interview, regarding Trump’s actions: “The question is whether he actually started a war or peace. That has not yet been decided, historians will decide that.” Read more about the Prime Minister’s comments here.
Several European NATO countries, including Poland, Spain, and Finland, have stated they will not provide military assistance in a potential conflict between Israel and the United States against Iran. More on European responses here. The differing stances among NATO allies underscore the complexities of the current geopolitical situation.
