Following talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the two leaders announced a strengthened partnership spanning defense, energy, trade and diplomacy, confirming once again that relations between the two countries are “excellent” and steadily deepening.
President Erdoğan highlighted how bilateral cooperation has expanded across tourism, transport, culture and—most importantly—the defense industry. The newly signed agreement reinforces joint work in defense and national security, an area he described as essential given Europe’s shifting security landscape. He also noted that scientific and innovation projects have flourished this year, showing that the partnership is not only strategic but forward-looking.
Trade relations continue to be a major success story: From an initial $2.5 billion, the two countries are now approaching $6 billion in annual trade volume, with a shared ambition to reach $10 billion. According to the Turkish president, concrete industrial and defense projects will help propel this growth.
He also reaffirmed Türkiye’s intention to join the European Union and expressed confidence that Hungary will remain a key supporter of this goal.
Prime Minister Orbán placed the meeting into a broader historical perspective, arguing that Hungary’s ties to the Turkic world are deeply rooted. While Hungary geographically belongs to the West, he noted, its cultural and historical kinship with Eastern peoples has always shaped its worldview. For the prime minister, this makes cooperation with Türkiye both natural and strategically indispensable.
He credited President Erdoğan with opening “new horizons” after 2010, helping the two nations build a dynamic relationship grounded in mutual respect.
A central theme of the talks was the search for peace. Both leaders assessed the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, 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 Türkiye’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 Türkiye will safeguard the transit route for Russian gas flowing to Hungary.