Politics
Turkish-Hungarian ties likely to strongly prevail in Magyar era
Türkiye was relatively slower to respond to the election victory of Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar in Hungary, unlike European leaders who were enthusiastic to laud the defeat of his predecessor, Viktor Orban. “Hungary has chosen Europe,” EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said, as Magyar supporters were still on the streets celebrating the end of Orban’s tenure.
Nevertheless, Türkiye apparently hopes to continue the path of cooperation with Hungary under Magyar. This was what President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who had a well-known rapport with Orban, signaled when he congratulated Magyar on Tuesday.
Experts believe that the room for cooperation is always present between the two countries, which have significantly boosted engagement in the past few decades.
Erdoğan affirmed his belief that Turkish-Hungarian relations — drawing strength from common history and culture — will be taken to a higher level on a bilateral basis, as well as on international platforms, during a phone call with Magyar. Erdoğan also highlighted that the Turkish-Hungarian alliance in NATO contributes to regional and global peace, while underlining a desire to improve the advanced strategic partnership between the two countries.
“Elections in Hungary generated a significant outcome both for domestic politics and foreign policy. In terms of domestic politics, it is a major shift after 16 years of the Orban government,” associate professor Şuay Nilhan Açıkalın, an international relations expert at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, told Daily Sabah.
Açıkalın highlighted that although the Turkish public and Europe saw a significant difference between Orban and Magyar, Magyar is a center-right politician and a former member of Orban’s Fidesz. “Still, he ran on a campaign promising significant constitutional amendments and taking steps to reverse decisions taken under the Orban administration. He managed to garner a substantial number of votes in smaller cities where Orban was believed to lead, in a dramatically short time,” she added, noting that Magyar’s Tisza was only founded in 2024.
David Biro, senior advisor and research and academic network lead of Hungary’s Ludovika Center for Turkic Studies, says changes may happen in ties but overall, they will remain steadfast.
“They will depend less on personalities and more on structural interests that have already made the relationship one of the most resilient partnerships in Central Europe,” Biro told Daily Sabah, referring to well-documented friendship of Erdoğan and Orban.
“Over the past decades, Türkiye and Hungary have built a partnership that is not only political, but also strategic, cultural and increasingly economic. This is why I do not expect a fundamental rupture in bilateral ties. Even if there is a change in leadership style, the broader logic of cooperation will remain intact, because both sides see value in maintaining a pragmatic and forward-looking relationship. First of all, one has to recognize that Turkish-Hungarian relations have evolved beyond symbolic friendship and they now rest on concrete areas of cooperation, such as trade, investment, energy security, defense industry coordination and regional connectivity,” Biro stated.
Açıkalın noted that Hungary had serious tensions in foreign policy, in light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and in relations with the European Union. “Hungary differed from others in Europe in terms of migration policy and support for Ukraine. Political tensions escalated between Budapest and Brussels back then. In this new era, we expect to a see a more harmonious relationship with the European Union,” Açıkalın underlined.
On Turkish-Hungarian relations in the new period, Açıkalın said she thought that they would continue without interruption, especially in terms of energy supplies, noting that the ties have always been “deep and intense.”
“Turkish-Hungarian relations deepened mostly in the field of defense and we should expect that they will be sustained,” she stated. The most concrete example of the defense ties were Gidran 4×4 vehicles, a customized version of Ejder Yalçın platform of prominent Turkish defense company Nurol Makina. Last March, the company signed a deal to co-produce some 800 armored vehicles in Hungary. Türkiye already delivered more than 100 Gidrans to the Hungarian army.
Açıkalın says Hungary will likely change its stand towards Russia under Magyar, pointing out to a likely shift from Orban-era policies that brought the country closer to Russia. “Magyar’s campaign used a slogan from anti-Soviet era, ‘Russians, go home’ and the public responded to it positively. Thus, we expect to see a Hungary distancing itself from Russia and becoming more compatible with European Union,” she said. She, however, added that under Magyar, Hungary may preserve its relations with Turkic states.
In 2018, Hungary joined the Turkic Council, which evolved into the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), as an observer state. Türkiye is a co-founder of the OTS. The OTS is a bloc of cooperation between countries, mostly former Soviet republics and/or neighbors of Russia. The organization has no stand against or in favor of Russia and seeks to improve bonds based on economic cooperation and shared cultural heritage of the member states. Most members balance their relations with Russia and European Union members.
“Hungary has increasingly positioned itself as a bridge between East and West, while Türkiye has pursued a more diversified foreign policy that connects Europe and the Turkic world and of course the wider Eurasian space. In that sense, the relationship is not just bilateral, it is also part of a larger strategic geography,” Biro said.
“In European politics, new governments often adjust tone, but they rarely overturn relationships that serve national interest. If Peter Magyar forms a government, the likely scenario is continuity with recalibration. That means the relationship may become more cautious, more institutionally framed and also possible less personal than under previous leadership,” he added.
Incentives for good ties
He stated that Hungary’s stance toward Türkiye was unlikely to turn hostile, noting that the country had “too many incentives to preserve good relations, especially in the period of geopolitical uncertainty, energy volatility and fragmentation inside the European Union.”
“Türkiye remains a valuable partner for Hungary because it offers something few other actors can provide, strategic depth for example. Türkiye is important for regional stability, migration management, transport corridors, defense cooperation and access to the Turkic world. Hungary for its part has shown that it wants to play an active role in this wider Eurasian context, rather than remain only a passive member of the European mainstream. The recent emphasis on the Turkic world and the Middle Corridor demonstrates that this relationship has a broader horizon than conventional EU politics,” Biro added.
The Middle Corridor, which is also known as Trans-Caspian East-West-Middle Corridor, is a modern bid for creating a new Silk Road, starting from China, traversing the Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye and finally Europe. Independent of geopolitical frictions, the corridor is key for ensuring energy security, especially for a Europe overly reliant abroad for its energy needs. Hungary courted Central Asian nations in past decades, both for energy and investment cooperation. Although it appeared to be closer to Russia in terms of relations, Budapest actually sought to decrease reliance on Russian oil and gas, seeking to diversify energy supplies. Through the OTS and on its own, its ties with Central Asia and other countries east of Europe significantly increased. For instance, it was the first Central European country to establish a strategic partnership with Kazakhstan 12 years ago.
The Turkish-Hungarian trade volume surged above 3 billion euros, according to Biro, who highlights Turkish investments in Hungary’s manufacturing, construction and energy sectors. Elsewhere, the two countries seek high-speed rail investments between Istanbul and Budapest, along with gas and pipeline expansions. Biro says that defense cooperation in particular peaked with Hungary’s acquisition of Bayraktar TB2 drones and talks on co-production. “This does not only bolstered Hungary’s capabilities but also signalled a shared commitment to NATO-compatible autonomy.”
Biro said what makes the Turkish-Hungarian relationship durable was that it was mutually beneficial.
“For Hungary, Türkiye is a strong regional actor that can contribute to security, energy diversification and diplomatic flexibility. And for Türkiye, Hungary is one of the most constructive and sympathetic voice inside EU and NATO environment,” he said.
“That matters because in an increasingly polarized international system, middle powers value partners who are predictable, respectful and strategically useful. This mutual utility is what protects the relationship from short-term political changes. And of course, at the same time, the Peter Magyar government could bring somewhat different tone in public diplomacy,” he added.
Biro underlined that Hungary’s foreign policy will likely change in its tone, becoming “more European and (adopting) an institutional language.” “It may try to balance domestic expectations with Hungary’s existing eastern opening. But even then, I do not think Türkiye would be viewed as an issue of confrontation,” he said. As a matter of fact, Biro positions Türkiye as one of the countries which Hungary “can maintain constructive ties regardless of domestic political transitions.”
“That is a sign of maturity in diplomacy. It’s not a weakness.”
The history of Turkish-Hungarian relations date back centuries, to the eras when they confronted each other on the battlefield. Over time, the ties have evolved into a close friendship.
Deep links
“The Turkish-Hungarian relationship has a strong historical and civilizational dimension. This is not an artificial or temporary alignment. The two countries have repeatedly emphasized their links in culture, diplomacy and regional identity. In the present context, that historical background helps stabilize the relationship when political cycles change. It creates a reservoir of goodwill that is difficult to undo quickly,” Biro said.
He stressed that in Hungary, “there may be a review of rhetorical emphasis with more attention to EU norms and domestic political differentiation.”
”There will likely be areas where tangible interests are clear, especially trade, transport and energy. There may be an effort to keep ties with Türkiye useful, but maybe less ideologically framed, which is entirely normal in contemporary European foreign policy,” he said.
Biro said Turkish-Hungarian ties under Orban evolved from “cordial friendship into multi-faced strategic alliance that served both nations exceptionally well. High-level visits became routine, with leaders like Orban and Erdoğan forging a general rapport that facilitated breakthroughs in key areas.”
“Turkish-Hungarian relations are likely to remain stable and functional under the Peter Magyar-led government because they are supported by overlapping strategic interests rather than by temporary political alignment alone. In a turbulent international environment, both Ankara and Budapest have reasons to preserve a pragmatic partnership. That is why I expect continuity in the relationship, even if the style and vocabulary of diplomacy change. I do not expect a strategic reset in the Turkish-Hungarian relations. It will be continuity because the continuity is more likely than disruption. The relationship is grounded in mutual interest, not just political goodwill, which makes it resilient.”
Defense Minister Yaşar Güler hosted his Romanian and Bulgarian counterparts on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, and the three countries signed a new memorandum for amending the regulations to expand their joint Black Sea mission. The new memorandum involves missions to protect critical infrastructure as well.
The three countries are littoral to the Black Sea, which has become a minefield in both senses of the word after the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022. Stray naval mines have threatened maritime security for the countries, while the risk later escalated into stray drones and drone attacks by both sides of the conflict targeting vessels, sometimes far from their shores.
The Turkish-Romanian-Bulgarian task force has neutralized more than 150 mines floating in the Black Sea, and most of the work was done by Türkiye, whose maritime trade was threatened by the conflict. The new memorandum means the expansion of the mission to protect energy infrastructure, telecoms and undersea pipelines operated or owned by the three countries. All three have gas exploration or production projects in the Black Sea. Romania looks to become the European Union’s largest gas producer through its Neptun Deep offshore gas project.
The Black Sea is home to Türkiye’s largest-ever natural gas reserve, which the country has been gradually discovering since 2020. The Sakarya gas field is estimated to contain 710 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas. It will meet approximately 30% of the nation’s annual gas needs once the production reaches total capacity. Last year, Türkiye announced a separate 75 bcm gas discovery in the Black Sea.
Güler met separately with Romanian Defense Minister Radu-Dinel Miruta and Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov in Ankara, and the three ministers later attended a working lunch with NATO defense ministers.
Also on Wednesday, Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Toiu praised the strong partnership with Türkiye in safeguarding security in the Black Sea.
The work carried out together by Romania, Bulgaria, Türkiye and Ukraine has, for example, made it possible to ensure the flow of grain in recent years, she told Anadolu Agency (AA) in an interview. She also noted the strong participation of Turkish companies in industrial infrastructure investment at the 2025 NATO Industry Forum held in Romania. Referring to her meetings with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, she said they consistently discuss Türkiye’s European perspective.
“The future we envision for Türkiye is focused on its European path,” she said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held closed-door talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the margins of the NATO summit held at the Presidential Complex on Wednesday.
No statements were made after the meeting that preceded an expected joint declaration at the end of the summit.
Macron, spotted jogging near his hotel on Wednesday morning before the summit began, sported sunglasses as he met Erdoğan, apparently due to an eye condition that also surfaced during his participation in the World Economic Forum in January. The French leader flew into Türkiye from neighboring Syria, where he signed key deals. Twin bomb attacks near his hotel did not disrupt the trip, and Macron joined other leaders in Ankara soon.
France is a founding member of NATO, though it remained detached from the military command of the alliance for decades. In 2019, Macron warned about the “brain death” of NATO, citing declining commitment by the main contributor, the United States. Back then, his remarks, uttered in an interview, were treated with skepticism by other members, but time proved Macron almost right as U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his complaints about what he termed a lack of contribution to the alliance by Europe, threatening to further distance his country from the bloc.
The publication of a joint declaration by NATO leaders at the end of the summit’s second day in Ankara has renewed attention on Türkiye’s expanding role in the alliance, with security experts pointing to Türkiye’s growing strategic weight within the alliance amid evolving internal and external threats.
“We have sharp differences across the Atlantic, there are two threats; one is external and the other is internal.” Edward P Joseph, a foreign policy lecturer and analyst at Johns Hopkins University, told Daily Sabah.
Türkiye hosted the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara on July 7-8, with leaders issuing a final declaration reaffirming their “unwavering commitment” to Article 5, the alliance’s collective defense clause, and to the transatlantic bond.
“Russia represents a threat. Iran also, we have to say, represents a threat,” Joseph said.
“An attack against one ally is an attack against all allies,” the declaration said, adding that NATO’s unity, solidarity and collective strength remain the foundation of peace, security and prosperity for 1 billion citizens across the alliance’s free and democratic nations.
The declaration reaffirmed allies’ “unwavering” support for Ukraine, saying the country continues to contribute to transatlantic security while defending its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It said European allies and Canada now provide the bulk of security assistance to Ukraine through bilateral and multilateral channels, stressing that such support must remain fair, predictable and sustainable over the long term. Allies pledged 70 billion euros (about $80 billion) in military equipment, assistance and training for Ukraine in 2026 and reaffirmed sovereign commitments to maintain at least the same level of support in 2027.
Addressing broader security challenges, the declaration said NATO would continue adapting to strategic competition, widespread instability, hybrid threats and recurring crises. It reiterated that Iran “must never develop a nuclear weapon” and called on Tehran to fully respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“We also have ambivalence in the United States, this distancing from NATO. President Trump is complaining,” he said hoping that this summit is a reminder to the U.S. leader and all allies of how valuable NATO is.
“The alliance is valuable to Türkiye and it’s valuable to all 32,” he added.
The U.S. president previously criticized the financial burden Washington bears within NATO, arguing that the alliance’s cost-sharing remains unequal.
In a social media post, Trump shared a graphic comparing NATO defense spending by member states and said it was “ridiculous” for the United States to continue what he described as a one-sided relationship. “They were not there for us,” he wrote.
Türkiye’s key role
Turning to Türkiye’s key role in the alliance and its hosting the summit this year, Joseph underlined that the summit has elevated Türkiye’s role and it’s been like a showcase of the country because of the second-largest army in the alliance, and so that’s been very significant.
Türkiye currently contributes nearly 3,000 personnel, along with various weapons, vehicles and military platforms, to ongoing NATO missions, operations and initiatives.
This year, Türkiye joined NATO’s Steadfast Dart exercise in Germany from Feb. 12-24, held to improve the operational readiness of the Allied Reaction Force. The country contributed naval, land and air elements, including the Anadolu Task Group, and deployed a joint force of more than 2,000 personnel to Germany.
“And the summit itself, today is the summit so I want to wait and see what the outcome is. But the dynamics, everything I see and witness having engaged with some of the key officials, I think the dynamics are more positive than people anticipated,” he said.
Since joining NATO, Türkiye has steadily expanded its contributions to the alliance’s missions and operations, including in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Libya and Iraq. Turkish officials say the country has preserved and developed Cold War-era military capabilities while also fighting terrorism and responding to regional instability.
U.S. President Donald Trump thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday for successfully hosting the NATO summit.
Trump hailed Erdoğan as “a great leader” and described the two-day summit in the capital, Ankara, as “very successful.”
“We just concluded a very successful NATO summit here in Türkiye,” Trump said at a news conference as the two-day NATO summit ended in the Turkish capital.
Trump thanked Erdoğan for hosting the summit.
“I want to thank President Erdoğan, who’s really a great man. He’s a great leader. He’s a friend of mine, been a friend of mine for a long time. He’s a strong person, a very strong personality, and that’s why he runs such a successful and good country,” he added.
The summit in Ankara brought together leaders of the 32-member alliance as well as key partners to discuss Europe’s defense capacity, the alliance’s defense spending targets, military modernization, and continued support for Ukraine.
Trump said during the summit that they discussed the target of spending 5% of GDP on defense.
“In the working session this morning, we discussed the progress other members are making toward the 5% target … some have truly answered the call and others are making big changes, and will be answering the call … I urge all nations to accelerate their plans to get to the benchmark as quickly as possible,” he added.
Trump said there was “tremendous unity” in the summit.
“And I urge all nations to accelerate their plans to get the benchmark as quickly as possible. The benchmark is going to be that 5% number; that’s the number it should have been for years,” he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron was spotted running on Wednesday morning on the streets of the Turkish capital Ankara, where he arrived to attend the NATO summit.
Accompanied by his bodyguards and French officials, Macron waved to media crews and the public as he sprinted around Seğmenler Park and near Çankaya, a former presidential residence, after he left his hotel. He was expected to join other leaders at the summit venue for a family photo and the official launch of the leaders’ session at the event.
Türkiye has earlier denied reports that certain routes in Ankara would be shut down exclusively for Macron’s jogging routine. Tight security was all around the capital anyway for the 36th summit of NATO heads of state and governments, where leaders from Donald Trump to Italy’s Giorgia Meloni will attend.
Macron barely skips his morning runs in trips abroad and has been spotted jogging during visits to China, India and Egypt.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek on Monday criticized the European Parliament Türkiye rapporteur, Nacho Sanchez Amor, over remarks about the country’s judiciary, saying no one could interfere in Türkiye’s ongoing judicial proceedings or attempt to pressure its courts.
In a statement posted on social media, Gürlek said Türkiye is “an independent, sovereign and democratic state governed by the rule of law,” adding that judicial authority is exercised by independent and impartial courts on behalf of the Turkish nation.
He said the monitoring of judicial proceedings in Türkiye by international actors reflected the country’s democratic maturity and transparency, but argued that comments made about ongoing cases amounted to an unacceptable attempt to influence the judiciary.
“It is unacceptable to make statements at courthouse doors as if delivering a verdict on pending cases. Such remarks target the Turkish judiciary and seek to place judicial processes under political pressure,” Gürlek said.
The minister stressed that judicial proceedings in Türkiye are conducted in accordance with the Constitution, domestic laws, evidence presented in court and the decisions of independent judges, rather than the political agendas, ideological expectations or lobbying efforts of foreign actors.
“No one can point a finger at Turkish courts, attempt to influence ongoing trials, place the Turkish judiciary under pressure or interfere in our country’s internal affairs,” he said.
Gürlek also said Türkiye had safeguarded its national will under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against what he described as tutelary forces, coup plotters, terrorist organizations and those seeking to lecture the country on democracy from abroad.
His comments came in response to recent remarks by Sanchez Amor concerning Türkiye’s judiciary and ongoing legal proceedings.
Minister Bolat: Türkiye has become one of the respected actors of global politics
Minister Fidan: Important issues on the agenda of Euro-Atlantic security were discussed in detail
Türkiye, Bulgaria, Romania expand Black Sea mine mission
Minister Bolat: Türkiye has become one of the respected actors of global politics
Minister Fidan: Important issues on the agenda of Euro-Atlantic security were discussed in detail
Türkiye, Bulgaria, Romania expand Black Sea mine mission
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