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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged the European Union to establish strategic partnerships with the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and Central Asia, emphasizing that Hungary and Central Europe have already taken steps in that direction.
“The European Union today should take the Organization of Turkic States and Central Asia as its strategic partners. Hungary has already done this. Central Europe is aware of it. We Hungarians are great supporters of the Turkic World,” Orban said during his address at the 12th OTS Summit held Monday in Gabala, Azerbaijan.
The 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States convened under the theme “Regional Peace and Security.”
The meeting, chaired by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, brought together Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Turkmen National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Orban, and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar, who attended as an observer.
In his remarks, Orban praised the OTS for fostering mutual understanding and regional cooperation.
“We have energy security, growth, and strong leaders. There is a promising future for Central Asia’s further strengthening. I would like to congratulate all of you,” he said.
The Hungarian leader argued that the EU was pursuing the wrong course by framing the Russia–Ukraine war as its own and relying on military solutions instead of diplomacy.
“The EU wants to win the war in Ukraine against Russia with military means. The Russia–Ukraine war has been defined by the European Union as our own war,” Orban said.
“We are still waiting for the EU to recognize the strategic importance of Central Asia. We Hungarians are great supporters of the Turkic World. We believe there should be peace talks and a cease-fire instead of war. When we defend peace, we also defend Hungary’s security," he added.
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Highlighting Hungary’s energy cooperation with regional partners, Orban expressed gratitude to Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
“I would like to thank President Erdogan very much. Hungary is grateful to Türkiye for being a reliable transit country in energy supply,” he said. “We are also very grateful to President Aliyev for ensuring safe energy delivery to Hungary and enabling investment in key natural gas and oil fields. Thanks to this, Hungarians are entering the market in this field, and I express my deep appreciation.”
Orban also urged the European Union to adopt “strategic thinking” and to correct its “complicated political situation,” adding that Hungary and Central Europe would continue to advocate for stronger ties with the Turkic world.
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