Hungary
Hungary boycotted the negotiations on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in 2017 and has consistently voted against the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the Treaty, including in 2025. It may sign and ratify or accede to the TPNW, but will have to make changes to its policies and practices to become compliant. It contributes to NATO’s Conventional Support to Nuclear Operations (CSNO) mission.
TPNW Status
| Key weapons of mass destruction treaties | ||
|---|---|---|
| NUCLEAR WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the TPNW | No | |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1969) | |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 1999, Annex 2 state) | |
| Party to an NWFZ | No | |
| CSA with the IAEA | Yes (In force 1972) | |
| AP with the IAEA | Yes (In force 2007) | |
| BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1972) | |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1996) | |
| TPNW Art. 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compatible |
| Possess or stockpile | Compatible | |
| Test | Compatible | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compatible |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compatible |
| (d) | Use | Compatible |
| Threaten to use | Compatible | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Non-compatible |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compatible |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compatible |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted no (2025) |
| Participated in 3MSP (2025) | No |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | No |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | No |
| Average MSP delegation size (% women) | N/A |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | N/A |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | No |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted no |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Nuclear facilities | Yes |
| Fissile material production | No |
| HEU stocks | Cleared |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
| SQP with the IAEA | No |
Latest developments
In the Conference on Disarmament in February 2025, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, expressed concern that the ‘global system for the control of [weapons of mass destruction] has been disabled, and the fields of disarmament and non-proliferation have been full of failures’. ‘If mutual trust returns to international politics, successes can return to the fields of both disarmament and non-proliferation. It is high time for that,’ he said.1
At the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Preparatory Committee meeting in April 2025, Hungary said: ‘Arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation have been and continue to be one of the priorities of Hungary’s security policy.’ It expressed alarm at the prospect of ‘new nations acquiring nuclear capabilities, motivated by regional conflicts or perceived dangers’.2
In the general debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2025, Foreign Minister Szijjártó said: ‘[W]e are experiencing global security being in its worst shape ever. Wars, the increasing threat of terrorism, ethnic-based conflicts, the spreading of extreme ideologies, and open reference to the use of nuclear weapons.’3
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2025, Hungary voiced support for ‘the ultimate objective of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons’. ‘In light of the growing threat of nuclear weapon use, it is imperative that we intensify our efforts to that end and reject policies that threaten their use,’ it said. ‘At the same time, it is important to recognize that there is no shortcut to nuclear disarmament.’4 It also emphasized the role of NATO’s ‘nuclear deterrence’ in providing ‘collective security’.5
Recommendations
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Hungary should renounce the possession and potential use of nuclear weapons on its behalf, and ensure that nuclear weapons do not have a role in its defence posture.
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Hungary should comply with its existing obligation under Article VI of the NPT and pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament.
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Hungary should urgently adhere to the TPNW. Until it is in a position to do so, it should welcome the TPNW as a valuable component in the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, work with the Treaty's states parties on practical steps towards disarmament, and attend the meetings of states parties as an observer.