In a Q&A, Orbán said that NATO membership was “a good thing” and brought security for Hungarians, and from the point of view of providing a security umbrella for central and eastern Europe, it was vital.

At the same time, as the British step away from the EU, the military strength of the bloc will drastically weaken, he said. “We cannot remain militarily in this vulnerable position.”

For this reason a European armed forces should be established, providing a “genuine joint force, with real joint interests, a common language and a common structure”.

National budgets should be reconsidered, and military industry must be incorporated into the economic-policy thinking. Orbán called for “export of democracy” to be stopped.

“If we continue to put the export of democracy to the forefront in place of stability in regions where the success of this outcome is extremely doubtful, then we will not build democracy but we will cause instability,” he said.

“If Turkey also becomes instable then many tens of millions of people will descend on Europe from that region without limit.”

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.