Four Star U.S. General Brady Visits Hungary, Calls Pápa Airbase Initiative Exemplary

January 20, 2009

General Brady gives an interview to Népszabadság journalist Péter Dunai

General Roger Brady, US Air Forces Europe Commander and NATO Air Component Commander, visited Budapest on January 20-21, 2009. While here, he met with General László Tömböl and Maj General János Varga and discussed how best to integrate Hungarian air assets into NATO operations.

General Brady had high praise for the Hungarian efforts in establishing the C-17 consortium base at Pápa AB and sees this capability as revolutionary in bringing this capacity to countries that could never afford it on their own. He also had discussions on how best to use the capability available in the JAS-39 Gripen to assist NATO in air policing requirements along with other taskings. General Brady sees Hungary as an integral partner in providing security capability to NATO operations both on the ground and in the air. Hungary has proven that their membership in NATO has made the alliance stronger and more capable said General Brady. In an interview with the Népszabadság daily, he commended Hungary for becoming a "provider" rather than just a "consumer" of international security.