PM Orbán Announces Strengthened Strategic Partnership with Turkey
Istanbul: Prime Minister Orbán, during his visit to Istanbul, emphasized that Hungary and Turkey are entering a new phase of strategic cooperation built on trust, shared interests, and a shared commitment to stability in an increasingly turbulent world. Following discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two leaders announced a strengthened partnership across defense, energy, trade, and diplomacy, reaffirming that relations between the two countries are ‘excellent’ and steadily deepening.
According to About Hungary, President Erdogan highlighted the expansion of bilateral cooperation in tourism, transport, culture, and, most importantly, the defense industry. A newly signed agreement will reinforce joint work in defense and national security, a sector described as essential given Europe’s shifting security landscape. Additionally, scientific and innovation projects have flourished this year, indicating that the partnership is not only strategic but also forward-looking.
Trade relations have been
a major success, growing from an initial $2.5 billion to nearly $6 billion in annual trade volume, with a shared ambition to reach $10 billion. The Turkish president noted that concrete industrial and defense projects will help achieve this growth. He also reiterated Turkey’s intention to join the European Union and expressed confidence that Hungary will continue to be a key supporter of this goal.
Prime Minister Orbán placed the meeting in a broader historical context, asserting that Hungary’s ties to the Turkic world are deeply rooted. Although geographically belonging to the West, Hungary’s cultural and historical kinship with Eastern peoples has always shaped its worldview, making cooperation with Turkey both natural and strategically indispensable. He credited President Erdogan for opening ‘new horizons’ after 2010, facilitating a dynamic relationship grounded in mutual respect.
A central theme of the talks was the search for peace, with both leaders assessing the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle Ea
st and agreeing that there is no military solution to the war in Ukraine. ‘We belong to the peace camp,’ PM Orbán stated, reiterating Hungary’s long-standing position. The two countries will now coordinate their diplomatic efforts to push for a ceasefire and meaningful negotiations.
The prime minister also expressed gratitude for Turkey’s role in managing migration, stating that without Ankara’s efforts, Europe ‘would already be unlivable.’ Energy cooperation remains another cornerstone of the partnership, with an agreement ensuring that Turkey will safeguard the transit route for Russian gas flowing to Hungary.