08.12.2025 19:50
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who was officially hosted by President Erdoğan in Istanbul, made a striking statement. Orban said, "I want to thank Erdoğan for his migration policy. If Turkey had not protected Europe and had not created a barrier to Hungary from the south, life in Europe would have become unlivable. Europe would be drowning in illegal and unlawful migration. It is Turkey that has ensured this does not happen."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, who came to Istanbul for the 7th meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office.
HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER ORBAN IN TURKEY
After their meetings, the two leaders held a joint press conference. Erdoğan stated, "I met with Mr. Orban during the fourth Antalya Diplomacy Forum last April and subsequently at the informal summit of the Turkic States Organization held in Budapest, hosted by Hungary. We also held the closing event of the cultural year we announced on the occasion of the centenary of the Friendship Agreement together with President Mr. Sulyok and Mr. Orban last December."
PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN: OUR TRADE TARGET IS 10 BILLION DOLLARS
In today's meetings, we not only reviewed our bilateral relations but also confirmed our determination to further develop our cooperation in areas such as energy, transportation, trade, defense, and culture. We signed various documents that will strengthen the contractual basis of our relations, from aviation to security, from technology to culture and education. Our foreign and defense ministers, as well as the heads of intelligence and the Defense Industry, held the first meeting of the Joint Consultation Mechanism that we previously agreed upon.
Today, we also decided to establish a Joint Planning Group, which will allow bilateral and global issues to be addressed in a much more institutional manner, under the leadership of our Foreign Ministers. I find both mechanisms meaningful in terms of reflecting the level our relations have reached; I believe that these consultation formats will contribute additionally to strengthening our cooperation. Esteemed members of the press; we also see the economic reflections of this exceptional level we have reached in our political relations. We are on track to reach the trade volume target of 6 billion dollars that we set with Mr. Orban. Considering the strong trade potential between us, we discussed updating our volume target to 10 billion dollars.
ORBAN: "IF TURKEY HADN'T BEEN A BARRIER, LIFE IN EUROPE WOULD HAVE BECOME UNLIVABLE"
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban made a striking statement: Orban said, "Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank President Erdoğan for his migration policy. If Turkey had not protected Europe and had not been a barrier to Hungary from the south, life in Europe would have become unlivable. Europe would be drowning in illegal and unlawful migration. It is Turkey that has prevented hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants from advancing into Europe. On behalf of Hungary, we thank you very much for your assistance."