Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary’s energy security must not be treated as a political campaign issue, emphasizing the need for “strategic calm” after inspecting the TurkStream gas pipeline near Kiskundorozsma.
Speaking at a press conference following the reinforcement of military protection along the pipeline’s Hungarian section, Prime Minister Orbán described the situation as “extremely serious.” The visit came after Serbian authorities discovered explosive devices near the pipeline’s section in Serbia.
He warned that Hungary remains affected by an “ongoing Ukrainian gas blockade,” but added that supplies can currently be compensated from the south. “If this umbilical cord is cut, the Hungarian economy would stop,” he stated.
Prime Minister Orbán confirmed that Hungary’s gas supply is stable for now. “At the moment, Hungary’s gas supply is not in danger, but continuous protection must be ensured,” he said, noting that the Hungarian Armed Forces are capable of securing the infrastructure. He also added that there is no information indicating any planned attack on the Hungarian section.
Addressing the wider European outlook, he warned that the continent is heading toward a severe energy crisis. “A competition for energy resources may develop, similar to what we saw during the pandemic with vaccines,” he said. He reiterated Hungary’s position that sanctions on Russian energy should be reconsidered.
“The country’s energy security is not a campaign issue, but a government issue. It requires strategic calm,” he stressed, adding that threats to critical infrastructure may persist.
Prime Minister Orbán also said the coming weeks could be decisive for Europe’s economic future, warning of a potential combination of an energy crisis and financial downturn. He added that Hungary must be prepared to defend its energy supply, maintain sovereignty over its energy mix, and “protect the functioning of the country and the security of Hungarian families.”