Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest on Sunday. The purpose of the meeting was to engage in discussions about bolstering bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between their respective nations. This meeting comes as part of a series of diplomatic gatherings hosted by Prime Minister Orbán to mark the commencement of the World Athletics Championships. After productive bilateral talks, President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Orbán led delegation meetings attended by ministers from both countries. The discussions focused on a range of topics, from Turkey’s ongoing process of accession to the European Union to pressing regional and international issues.
One of the notable subjects of conversation was Sweden’s potential accession to NATO. Given the summer break currently observed by the parliaments of Hungary and Turkey, the question of ratifying Sweden’s NATO membership might reappear on the agenda in the autumn. Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó commented on Sunday that both nations would maintain continuous consultation and communication regarding the progress of their respective national parliamentary procedures on this matter. Beyond security and geopolitical concerns, the leaders also delved into the realm of energy cooperation. Turkey and Hungary already share an energy partnership, with Hungary receiving a substantial portion of its gas through the Turk Stream pipeline, which transports Russian gas across the Black Sea. Both countries are keen on expanding this collaboration further.
An exciting announcement emerged from the talks – the two nations are poised to reinforce their “strategic partnership.” An official statement regarding this advancement is anticipated during President Erdoğan’s next visit to Hungary in December, signifying the deepening ties between Turkey and Hungary in various domains. President Erdoğan’s visit to Budapest was not only about diplomacy, but also about celebrating the World Athletics Championships. Alongside him, the event played host to a gathering of other prominent leaders, including the presidents of Serbia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and President Serdar Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan.
As global dynamics continue to evolve, this meeting between President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Orbán underscores the commitment of Turkey and Hungary to strengthen their relations, explore new avenues of cooperation, and contribute to stability and prosperity in the region. The outcomes of this discussion are likely to have a lasting impact on the direction of bilateral ties and regional collaboration.
