In recent years, Hungary and Serbia have significantly deepened their bilateral relationship, culminating in what many observers see as a new strategic alliance. This partnership, formalized through high-level summits and practical agreements, reflects mutual interests in economic growth, infrastructure development, shared geopolitical vision, and peace. The new alliance highlights modes of cooperation that transcend traditional political and economic ties, embracing a broad range of fields, including security, culture, and energy.
Hungary and Serbia have built strong diplomatic and strategic connections, including an excellent personal relationship between the two leaders of the countries. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán share a strong personal rapport, which has facilitated the historical deepening of ties.
Hungary has supported Serbia on critical issues, such as its stance on Kosovo, within European and international forums. Trade between Serbia and Hungary has increased significantly. A decade ago, the trade volume was around €50 million, while today, it exceeds €1 billion! This transformation reflects the depth of their strategic alliance and its direct impact on citizens’ quality of life. In addition, Hungary’s investment in the economic development of regions with a significant. Hungarian minority in Serbia’s Vojvodina province highlights mutual benefits and strengthens cultural ties. These initiatives bolster cross-border cooperation and integration.
The cooperation culminated in the establishment of the Hungarian-Serbian Strategic Cooperation Council that became a cornerstone of the alliance. The Council held its second session on November 14th in Budapest, building on its inaugural meeting in 2023 in Palic, Serbia. These sessions bring together the countries’ top leadership, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, with the most important ministers, to set strategic goals and sign agreements across multiple sectors.
As was reported, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Thursday in Budapest, after the meeting of the Hungarian-Serbian Strategic Cooperation Council, that “Serbia is the most important country from the viewpoint of Hungarian security, and so decisions have been made with respect to further Hungarian-Serbian projects in the fields of oil transport, gas conveyance, the construction of power lines, natural gas trade and natural gas storage…”. And what is very important for both countries and the whole Europe is the fact that it is also confirmed that “the Budapest-Belgrade railway line will be completed by 2026, and they agreed to make the Röszke-Horgos highway border crossing the most modern, fastest and most cultured border crossing in Europe with a huge investment that they will implement jointly”.
Prime Minister Orban added at a press conference held together with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, that “due to developments in recent years, Hungary is being supplied with energy increasingly via Serbia (…)The Russo-Ukrainian war sealed the other direction, and so Serbia has become a country offering a first-rate security opportunity and guarantee to Hungary. From the viewpoint of Hungary, from the viewpoint of Hungarian security, today there is no more important country than Serbia,” he stated.
In addition to the 173 joint agreements between the two countries seven more have now been signed, at the second meeting of the Strategic Coopertion Council. Key initiatives include the construction of a high-speed railway between Belgrade and Budapest, set to be operational by 2026, which will revolutionize regional connectivity and trade.Expanding energy infrastructure, including a pipeline linking Serbia’s Novi Sad refinery to Hungary, ensuring energy security for both nations.
In his address, the president of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, emphasized:
“Thank you for the hospitality on behalf of the entire Serbian delegation. Here, we feel at home. I was in Budapest just a few days ago, had a lengthy conversation with Viktor in Baku, and today we talked privately for two hours, discussing various topics. Things in the world are changing so quickly that even if we met daily, we’d still have something new to discuss. Every time I meet Orbán, I learn a great deal,” Vucic said.
He continued: “I must say, Viktor, the relationship between Serbs and Hungarians has changed so much that it’s unrecognizable compared to 15 years ago. When Hungary plays a game, Serbs cheer for them. Viktor Orbán is extremely popular in Serbia. Our ties—political, economic, and interpersonal—are deeper than ever. We’re strengthening these ties with agreements, and today, seven new agreements were signed. We solve problems together, tackling challenges as partners”.
We’re building power lines, the Pannonian Corridor, which will reduce network losses. Serbia will always be a reliable partner for Hungary. When we build an oil pipeline, we do it with them, knowing we have friends we can rely on.We also discussed transportation and the Horgoš border crossing, which will be the most monumental crossing in all of Europe (…)We also talked about military-technical cooperation and collaboration between our armies, which I hope will be further enhanced. We discussed the conflict in Ukraine, and I shared some of my fears and concerns. I’m not sure the world is heading in a positive direction, which is why our cooperation is so vital, to prioritize peace.
(…)I hope we’ll manage to preserve peace. Serbia will remain an ally of Hungary.”
The collaboration extends to education, science, and culture. A multi-year cultural cooperation program (2024–2027) and memorandums of understanding in science and innovation demonstrate a commitment to fostering closer societal ties. Security is another pillar of the alliance. The two nations have coordinated efforts on border management, counter-terrorism, and regional stability. On European integration, Hungary, as an EU member, has pledged to support Serbia’s accession process, offering expertise and advocacy within EU institutions.
Twelve working groups have been established, focusing primarily on the economy and improving trade relations.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán signed also a joint political declaration after the Strategic Cooperation Council meeting.
Additional agreements include:
- Legal assistance in civil matters
- A cultural cooperation program for 2024–2027
- Memorandums of understanding between the ministries of science, innovation, and culture from both countries
- An extension of Hungarian experts’ work plan for European integration.
The agreements also cover energy cooperation, such as expanding gas storage and creating the “Pannonian Corridor” for more efficient electricity transmission. Serbia has also expressed readiness to invest in Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant.
Obviously, for Hungary, Serbia serves as a key partner in the Western Balkans, a region vital to its foreign policy. For Serbia, Hungary is a gateway to the European Union and a critical ally in its EU accession ambitions.
This partnership is also framed by a broader geopolitical context. The shifting dynamics in Europe, heightened by the war in Ukraine, economic uncertainties, and energy challenges, have pushed Hungary and Serbia to align more closely. Their cooperation is seen as a model for regional diplomacy, demonstrating how nations with differing EU statuses can work together effectively. Orbán and Vučić have aligned their countries’ foreign policies on several issues, particularly regarding EU scepticism and regional stability.
Hungary has become one of Serbia’s strongest advocates within the European Union, with Orbán supporting Serbia’s accession and often defending Belgrade in EU forums.
Serbia’s non-alignment on Western sanctions against Russia resonates with Hungary’s cautious stance on the same issue, further strengthening their geopolitical bond.
The two leaders publicly support each other’s policies and governance models. Orbán frequently praises Vučić’s leadership as a stabilizing force in the Balkans, while Vučić acknowledges Hungary as a key ally in Serbia’s EU integration journey. This mutual validation bolsters their domestic and international standing.
Viktor Orbán and Aleksandar Vučić have forged a powerful alliance that blends political ideology, strategic interests, and personal rapport. Their collaboration has not only strengthened ties between Hungary and Serbia but also offered a model of pragmatic regional cooperation in a fragmented Europe. Whether this partnership evolves into a broader influence on European politics or faces resistance from international actors will depend on their ability to balance domestic priorities with external pressures.
