Canada pledges closer ties with Hungary's newly elected leader

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged closer ties with Hungary's newly elected leader, Peter Magyar, on Monday, congratulating him on his "decisive" election victory.

"As NATO Allies, commercial partners, and with over 320,000 Canadians of Hungarian heritage, the prime ministers underscored the strength and immense potential of the Canada-Hungary relationship," said a statement by the Prime Minister's Office following their talks over the phone.

The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in trade, commerce, and energy as Canada deepens its engagement with the European Union.

On security, the statement noted that they "emphasised closer collaboration on security and defence, including in defence procurement through the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative."

The leaders also addressed the conflict in Ukraine, stressing "the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace." Both sides agreed to remain in close contact.

Hungary's opposition leader Peter Magyar held a clear lead over Viktor Orban in Sunday's parliamentary elections, according to the National Election Office.

Orban later conceded defeat, saying: "We will serve our nation from the opposition."