Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday received Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Istanbul, ahead of the 7th meeting of the Türkiye–Hungary High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC).

Erdoğan welcomed Orban with an official ceremony at the Dolmabahçe Working Office, accompanied by a brief private conversation before the formal talks began. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was also present during the reception.

One of the most significant outcomes of the meeting was a shared commitment that Türkiye will guarantee the continued flow of Russian natural gas to Hungary, delivered via the TurkStream pipeline. Orban stated that Türkiye’s guarantee ensures Hungary’s energy security amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Hungary, which already imports significant volumes of Russian gas through TurkStream, views Türkiye as a cornerstone of its energy supply strategy — a central issue as Europe navigates shifting energy dynamics.

During a joint press conference following their meeting, Erdoğan and Orban announced a series of new agreements covering aviation, security, technology, culture and education. The moves aim to expand and deepen cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas.

The two leaders said they would raise their bilateral trade volume target to US$10 billion, up from the previous goal of $6 billion. Erdoğan noted that this ambition reflects heightened mutual interest and growing economic ties.

In addition, both sides agreed to strengthen defense cooperation. A new joint planning group — under the leadership of the two countries’ foreign ministers — was announced, supplementing existing defense and intelligence consultation mechanisms. The partner countries also committed to expanding joint projects in research, digitalization, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship, as part of the newly declared “Türkiye–Hungary Science and Innovation Year.”

Orban praised Türkiye’s regional role and leadership, describing the broader Turkic world as “a dynamic and strengthening force.” He emphasized that the two countries — amid growing global and regional instability — share a common commitment to peace, security and cooperation.

For Erdoğan, the renewed strategic cooperation and multipronged agreements signal a shift toward deeper, more institutionalized relations between Ankara and Budapest. The meeting cemented the two countries’ status as close allies navigating evolving geopolitical challenges together.

As the 7th HLSCC draws to a close, today's meeting between Erdoğan and Orban underscores a new chapter in Türkiye–Hungary relations — one defined by expanding energy ties, enhanced economic and defense cooperation, and shared strategic interests in a volatile international environment. (ILKHA)