Germany and Hungary engaged in discussions during an official meeting on Monday to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, culture, and defense. Johan Wadephol, the German Foreign Minister, emphasized the importance of these relations during his meeting with Anita Urban, his Hungarian counterpart, in Budapest.
Shared History and Hope for the Future
Wadephol stated at the meeting: "Thirty-seven years ago, Hungary opened a border for Germans wanting to escape East Germany, creating a path to freedom. We will always be grateful for this and connected to Hungary." He added: "Today we seize the opportunity and widely reopen the doors between our two countries." This is the first visit by the German Foreign Minister to Hungary in nearly seven years, and he is accompanied by a business delegation.
Future Plans and New Collaborations
Wadephol and Urban announced at this meeting that a meeting of the "German-Hungarian Forum" at the level of foreign ministers will be held in Berlin later this year to further strengthen cooperation. The last meeting of this forum at this level was held in 2019.
The new Hungarian government, led by conservative Prime Minister Peter Magiar, is moving towards fundamental changes in its foreign policies following the ousting of Viktor Orban in the April elections. Budapest's relations with Berlin had cooled during Orban's tenure due to policies close to Moscow and obstacles to EU sanctions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Urban, who has no relation to the former prime minister, stated that fundamental changes are occurring and that "discussions and negotiations have resumed." The Magiar government is charting a new and more critical path towards Russia.
Wadephol also mentioned the possibility of declaring 2028 as the "German-Hungarian Cultural Year" to enhance cultural and social exchange. Urban stated that the two countries want to expand their cooperation beyond the automotive industry to electronics and the defense sector.
The 35th anniversary of the signing of the friendship treaty between Germany and Hungary will be celebrated in February next year. Urban also announced that Magiar will travel to Berlin on November 9 and 10 to discuss with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Before this trip, Wadephol emphasized that the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats from Hungary last week is considered a clear signal to Moscow. He stated that Budapest's solidarity, demonstrated by the approval of EU sanctions against Russia, has sent a clear message to Moscow that "we are defending the peace order in Europe against Russian aggression."
