Erdogan and Orban Discuss Bilateral Ties and Global Issues at NATO Summit
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban convened on Tuesday for a closed-door meeting on the sidelines of the NATO leaders’ summit in the United States. The two leaders engaged in comprehensive discussions covering bilateral relations and pressing regional and global matters.
President Erdogan emphasized Türkiye’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to mediate an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and halt Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate. Erdogan underscored the necessity for the international community to intensify its peacekeeping efforts in these conflict zones.
In his discussions with Orban, Erdogan also expressed Ankara’s expectations for Hungary’s support in revitalizing Türkiye’s European Union accession process. Erdogan highlighted the importance of advancing Türkiye’s relationship with the EU during Hungary’s upcoming presidency of the European Council.
The relationship between Türkiye and Hungary, which was elevated to a strategic partnership in 2013 with the establishment of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, has seen significant growth in recent years. This partnership was further celebrated last December when the two nations marked the centenary of their diplomatic relations.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Orban revealed that he had sought Erdogan’s backing for Hungary’s peace initiative aimed at resolving the Ukrainian conflict. In a Facebook video message, Orban stated, “I asked Mr. President to support us in our peace mission. The stances of the warring parties are still far from each other. But if the ‘friends of peace’ unite, with joint efforts, we can take the next step toward peace.”
The talks between Erdogan and Orban are part of broader diplomatic efforts at the NATO summit to address some of the world’s most challenging conflicts and foster international cooperation for peace and stability.
