Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will pay an official visit to Ankara on December 8, 2025, for high-level strategic talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish Presidency's Communications Directorate announced on Sunday.

The visit, taking place at the invitation of President Erdoğan, will center on the 7th Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between the two nations. Prime Minister Orban will be accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, underscoring the importance both capitals place on the bilateral relationship.

In a statement on his official social media account, the Turkish Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, outlined the visit's agenda. He stated that the leaders would conduct a comprehensive review of the expanded strategic partnership between Türkiye and Hungary, examining relations "in all aspects."

A central component of the program will be a "thorough exchange of views on current regional and global concerns," indicating that discussions are expected to extend beyond bilateral ties to address pressing international issues.

To further institutionalize cooperation, the two sides plan to sign various new agreements during the visit. As Duran noted, these accords are "aimed at improving the contractual foundation of bilateral cooperation."

The upcoming summit highlights the continued strengthening of ties between Türkiye and Hungary, two NATO allies that have often adopted similar, independent stances on several European and geopolitical matters. Both nations have maintained a policy of engagement with Russia despite EU sanctions and have expressed skepticism toward certain EU migration policies.

The High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, first established in 2013, serves as the primary mechanism for steering this partnership. The council typically results in joint declarations and a roadmap for collaboration across diverse fields, including trade, energy, defense, and diplomacy.

The last such council meeting was held in Budapest in 2023, where leaders pledged to increase bilateral trade volume and enhance cooperation in defense industry and nuclear energy sectors.

The timing of the visit, set for late 2025, suggests it will serve as a strategic alignment ahead of key European political cycles. It provides an opportunity for both leaders to coordinate on shared priorities and present a unified front on issues where their positions diverge from the mainstream consensus within the European Union and NATO.

The outcomes of the talks and the specific nature of the agreements to be signed will be closely watched by international observers for signals regarding the future direction of this consequential partnership at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. (ILKHA)