Hungary Minister says Türkiye Transit Route Essential for Energy Security
Hungary’s foreign affairs and trade minister, Péter Szijjártó, has praised Türkiye as a reliable and predictable transit partner, saying that without it, Hungary’s energy security would not be guaranteed. Szijjártó made the comments during an inauguration ceremony for an incubator plant built by Hungarian company Medicor in Türkiye. The Hungarian government provided a grant of 480 million forints towards the 800 million forint project, which will start production in the second half of the year. Medicor will also move its research and development activities to Ankara.
Szijjártó highlighted the growing economic cooperation and bilateral trade between Hungary and Türkiye, noting that the turnover of trade has increased by 19% since the start of the year, and Turkish exports to Hungary have broken a record. He also expressed Hungary’s gratitude for Türkiye’s role in securing the country’s energy security, adding that without the TurkStream gas pipeline, there can be no secure energy supply in Hungary.
Despite threats of sanctions from common friends and allies, Szijjártó said Hungary held out and built the pipeline, which is now operating reliably. He noted that Hungary is also in talks with Turkish energy company Botas for the purchase of Turkish natural gas, and is developing an agreement on the purchase of gas from Azerbaijan which would require the same transit route.
Szijjártó emphasized the importance of nuclear energy as a means of energy cooperation, noting that Hungary and Türkiye are building nuclear plants using the same technology. The reactors in Türkiye are expected to go online sooner than Hungary’s, providing useful information for the operation of the Hungarian blocks. Overall, Szijjártó described the strategic political and economic cooperation between Hungary and Türkiye as a success story that benefits both partners.
