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Türkiye and Hungary will open a new chapter in their bilateral ties on Monday as Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives in Ankara for the Seventh Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, while top officials from both countries convene in Istanbul for the inaugural session of the Türkiye-Hungary Joint Consultation Mechanism.
Ahead of the council meeting, Türkiye will host the first gathering of the Türkiye-Hungary Joint Consultation Mechanism in Istanbul.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalin will participate, alongside a Hungarian delegation led by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Fidan will emphasize ongoing efforts to strengthen and diversify cooperation under the enhanced strategic partnership.
He will highlight the mechanism as an important step, reinforcing the institutional structure of bilateral ties and advancing collaboration in military, security, defense industry and counterterrorism fields.
Fidan is also expected to underline the need to accelerate joint efforts to deepen economic relations and increase mutual investments, while reaffirming the shared commitment to expand cooperation in the defense industry through new projects.
He will describe Hungary as a key partner in security cooperation and note that counterterrorism efforts will continue based on mutual interests.
During the meeting, Fidan will also exchange views on regional and global developments, including the Russia-Ukraine war, Gaza, Syria, the Balkans, the South Caucasus and Africa.
He will convey Türkiye’s appreciation for Hungary’s constructive stance and support for advancing Türkiye-EU relations.
The mechanism, created to bring together foreign and defense ministers, intelligence chiefs and defense industry officials, is planned to convene annually, alternating between Türkiye and Hungary.
Communications Directorate head Burhanettin Duran announced that Orban and his senior delegation will visit Türkiye at President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s invitation to attend the seventh cooperation council meeting.
The leaders will review bilateral relations at the enhanced strategic partnership level and conduct comprehensive discussions on regional and global issues.
Duran stated that several agreements aimed at strengthening the legal framework of bilateral cooperation are expected to be signed during the visit.
Relations between Türkiye and Hungary, rooted in historical ties dating back to the Ottoman era, have advanced significantly in recent years.
Hungary has become one of Türkiye’s most consistent supporters within the European Union and has gained observer status in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), co-founded by Türkiye.
Orban, who has frequently echoed positions similar to Erdogan’s on regional peace efforts, remains one of the few European leaders opposing escalated confrontation with Russia and advocating for a fair resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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