In recent years, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have significantly increased their defense spending, creating opportunities to implement comprehensive armed forces modernization programs. However, when viewed over a decade-long horizon, a dual picture emerges: in the wake of the 2008/2009 financial crisis, the defense sector suffered dramatic funding cuts that lasted for years. It was only the strategic shocks of 2014–2015—primarily Russia’s aggressive military actions against Ukraine—that altered these countries’ threat perceptions. Combined with an improving economic situation, these developments reversed the previous negative trend.
This analysis evaluates the defense spending trends of Central and Eastern European countries that serve as reference points for Hungary—namely the Visegrád Four, the Baltic States, and Romania—during the period from 2010 to 2020.
