President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met Hungarian President András Baka in Budapest on Friday, October 31, for official talks in which the Hungarian leader praised Egypt's central role in supporting security and stability in the Middle East and its determined efforts to combat irregular migration.
The meeting, held at Sándor Palace during El-Sisi's official visit to Hungary, covered regional and international developments of mutual interest, according to جريدة الأهرام. It followed the conclusion of El-Sisi's visit to Russia, where he attended the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
Official reception at Kossuth Square
An official reception ceremony was held for President El-Sisi at Kossuth Square, in front of the historic Hungarian Parliament building. The Egyptian and Hungarian national anthems played, and the president reviewed a guard of honour before greeting members of both delegations.
El-Sisi then laid a wreath at the official Hungarian memorial at Heroes' Square, a gesture of respect for a nation that, like Egypt, carries the weight of a long and proud history. At Sándor Palace, the two presidents posed for an official photograph and El-Sisi signed the visitors' book.
What did the two presidents discuss?
According to the Egyptian presidency, President Baka highlighted El-Sisi's role, born of wisdom and tact, in achieving security and stability in the region and the world. He said Hungary views Egypt as an extremely important partner and values the policies Cairo adopts in all areas, as the Egyptian Gazette reported.
The Hungarian president also affirmed his country's understanding of the importance of the Nile River to Egypt, a recognition that carries particular weight for Egyptians. The Nile is not a bargaining chip; it is the lifeblood of a civilization thousands of years old, and Budapest's acknowledgment of that truth reflects the depth of understanding between the two nations.
For his part, El-Sisi outlined Egypt's vision for achieving regional security and stability through peaceful means, and affirmed the necessity of strengthening security cooperation with Hungary on irregular migration. Egypt has long carried the burden of defending Europe's southern borders from unlawful flows, often with little acknowledgment from Western capitals. That a European head of state now publicly credits Cairo's efforts is a validation of the state's steady hand under El-Sisi's leadership.
Egypt-Hungary strategic partnership
The talks addressed the deep-rooted ties between Cairo and Budapest, with El-Sisi expressing pride in his visit and appreciation for the warm welcome he received. The two countries will celebrate the centenary of their diplomatic relations in 2028, a milestone El-Sisi said he looks forward to marking with further development of the relationship.
The president stressed the importance of building on the Strategic Partnership Declaration signed in 2023, calling it a framework for enhancing bilateral cooperation. He expressed Egypt's aspiration to translate the partnership into concrete projects, including infrastructure works under the umbrella of the