Türkiye indispensable partner for Hungary’s trade and energy security: Viktor Orban

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has emphasized the strategic importance of Türkiye for Hungary, especially in the fields of trade and energy, during his visit to the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

In a social media post, Orban said he was in Antalya to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discuss a range of issues. “As Brussels plots and Ukraine cuts off our eastern gas supply, Türkiye stands as a crucial ally in trade and energy,” he said.

“The Turkish Stream is a cornerstone of Hungary’s energy security, shielding us from external pressures. Together, we stand strong, protect our national interests, and resist any form of foreign blackmail,” he stated.

In a following social media post on X, “In these challenging times, Türkiye’s support is crucial. As Brussels pushes for war and threatens our energy supply, our partnership is vital. We’ll stand firm in defending Hungary’s sovereignty. Tesekkur ederim, President Erdogan!” he added.

Orban cites TurkStream as vital to Hungary’s energy security

Orban underlined that Hungary aims to strengthen its energy cooperation with Türkiye, especially in light of recent geopolitical developments.

“At the beginning of this year, Ukrainians cooperating with Brussels bureaucrats shut down the major European natural gas pipeline running through their territory. This was a method of pressuring Slovakia and us to get involved in the Russia-Ukraine war,” he said.

“That is why we must now source our energy from the south instead of the east, and Türkiye is a crucial partner in this. Without Turkish Stream, Hungary’s energy security would be inconceivable,” he added.

Orban rejects pressure from Brussels, stresses Türkiye’s role

Noting increasing pressure on Hungary, Orban added, “Brussels is still trying to bring Hungarians to their knees. Our duty is to defend the interests of the Hungarian people and resist blackmail. At this point, Türkiye is an indispensable partner for us.”

Erdogan emphasizes deeper cooperation across strategic sectors

Following a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the forum, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s commitment to strengthening ties with Hungary.

According to a statement from the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, the leaders addressed both bilateral relations and regional developments.

President Erdogan stressed that cooperation between Türkiye and Hungary has been growing and that further collaboration in the economy, trade, energy, and defense industries would serve the mutual interests of both nations.

He also highlighted the importance of enhancing Türkiye-EU relations, stating that this is necessary for the security and prosperity of Europe and that ongoing dialogue should continue.

Regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Erdogan reaffirmed that Türkiye has maintained a principled stance since the beginning and continues to advocate for a just and lasting peace.