Foreign relations of Portugal

Historical

Historically, the focus of Portuguese diplomacy has been to preserve its independence, vis-à-vis, the danger of annexation by Spain, and the maintenance of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, which officially came into being in 1386, and with the United Kingdom as a successor to England, it is still in place today.

Other goals have also been constant such as the political stability of the Iberian peninsula and the affirmation of Portuguese interests in Europe and the Atlantic (also in the Indian and Pacific Oceans throughout different moments in history).

International organizations

Portugal was a founding member of NATO (1949), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (1961), and European Free Trade Area (1960); it left the latter in 1986 to join the European Economic Community, which would become the European Union (EU) in 1993. In 1996, it co-founded the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). The country is a member state of the United Nations since 1955.

Recently, the primacy of the United States and inter-governmental organizations such as NATO and the United Nations have also been paramount in the affirmation of Portugal abroad.

Portugal has been a significant beneficiary of the EU. It was among the top beneficiaries of the EU-15 between 1995 and 2004 (only behind Spain and Greece in absolute terms, and behind Ireland and Greece in a per capita basis). Portugal is a proponent of European integration and held the presidency of the European Union for the second time during the first half of 2000, and again in the second half of 2007. Portugal used its term to launch a dialogue between the EU and Africa and to begin to take steps to make the European economy dynamic and competitive. In 2002, the euro began to circulate as Portugal's currency. José Sócrates, as Prime Minister of Portugal, presided over the rotative Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the period July–December 2007. [1] In this post, Sócrates and his team focused on the EU-Brazil (1st EU-Brazil summit) and EU-African Union (2007 Africa-EU Summit) relations, as well as in the approval of the Treaty of Lisbon.

Portugal was a founding member of NATO; it is an active member of the alliance by, for example, contributing proportionally large contingents in Balkan peacekeeping forces. Portugal proposed the creation of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) to improve its ties with other Portuguese-speaking countries. Additionally, Portugal has participated, along with Spain, in a series of Ibero-American Summit. Portugal held the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for the year 2002. The chairman-in-office was Portuguese Foreign Minister António Martins da Cruz.

Disputes

Portugal holds claim to the disputed territory of Olivença on the Portugal-Spain border.

Albania

Albania has an embassy in Lisbon.

Bulgaria

Diplomatic relations were first established in 1925. They were severed in 1945 and were restored on June 24, 1974.

Bulgaria has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Lisbon.

Portugal has an embassy in Sofia.

In 2007, the two countries signed a police co-operation agreement.

Denmark

Portugal has an embassy in Copenhagen.

Denmark has an embassy in Lisbon.

Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union

France

Portuguese links to France have remained very strong and the country is considered one of Portugal's main political partners.

Kosovo

Portugal recognized Kosovo on October 7, 2008. Kosovo has formally announced its decision to open an embassy in Lisbon.

Malta

Malta has an embassy in Lisbon and four honorary consulates, in the Algarve, Azores, Lisbon, and Porto).

Portugal has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Valletta.

Romania

Formal relations started in 1880

Portugal has an embassy in Bucharest.

Romania has an embassy in Lisbon and three honorary consulates (in Estoril, Faro, and Porto).

Both countries are full members of the Latin Union, of NATO, and of the European Union.

There are around 11,000 people of Romanian descent living in Portugal.*

Russia

Portugal has an embassy in Moscow.

Russia has an embassy in Lisbon.

Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Serbia

Portugal established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Serbia on October 19, 1917. Relations continued with the successor Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Portuguese recognized the government in exile of this state after the German occupation of 1941. Relations with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which took power in 1945 after World War II, were only established in 1974 after the Portuguese Carnation Revolution. Following the dissolution of SFR Yugoslavia during the Yugoslav wars, Portugal maintained relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, later reconstituted as Serbia and Montenegro and finally as Serbia after Montenegro declared its independence in July 2006. Portugal has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Lisbon.

In April 1999, Portugal participated in the NATO bombing of Serbia from the Aviano air base in Italy. Portugal also provided troops as part of NATO peacekeeping efforts in the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo in 1999. In April 1999, Serbia filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice regarding Portugal's use of force in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. As of 2007, Portugal still had about 300 troops in Kosovo.

In December 1997, President of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milošević received Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama to discuss strengthening bilateral relations.

In January 2002, Jaime Gama returned to Yugoslavia in his capacity as Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairman-in-Office. The OSCE was engaged in stabilizing the situation in southern Serbia following the Kosovo War.

In November 2003, the President of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marović, visited Portugal. During this visit, he signed an agreement on the succession of Bilateral Agreements between Yugoslavia and Portugal, extending prior agreements on tourism, business, scientific, and technological co-operation, and co-operation in information.

In July 2005, Portuguese Minister of Defense Luís Amado visited Serbia and Montenegro, where he discussed military co-operation with his Serbian counterpart.

In May, 2007, Portuguese Foreign Minister Luís Amado gave strong support for Serbian ambitions to join the European Union.

In July 2007, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica visited Lisbon.

In October 2008, Portugal recognized Kosovo's independence from Serbia. (See also Kosovan–Portuguese relations.)

In November 2008, Portuguese Foreign Minister Luís Amado met with his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremić in Belgrade and voiced his support for removing the suspension of a trade agreement between Serbia and the European Union. Also that month, the Serbian Minister of Science and Technological Development met a Portuguese delegation and discussed cooperation in energy efficiency, nanotechnology, and the food industry, with plans to sign a co-operation agreement on science and technology by the end of 2008.

In February 2009, Serbian Defence Minister Dragan Šutanovac met with his Portuguese counterpart Nuno Severiano Teixeira. They signed an agreement on defense cooperation and discussed Serbia's NATO bid.

In June 2009, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković met with Portuguese parliamentary speaker Jaime Gama, and discussed improvements to bilateral cooperation.

In the January–October 2006 period, bilateral trade between Serbia and Portugal were estimated at US$12.7 million.

Spain

Historically, the two states were long-standing adversaries, but in recent years, they have enjoyed a much friendlier relationship and in 1986, they entered the European Union together.

Ukraine

Portugal recognized Ukraine’s independence in 1991.

Portugal has an embassy in Kiev.

Ukraine has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Lisbon and a consulate in Porto.

Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and of the Council of Europe.

There are between 40,000 and 150,000 Ukrainians living in Portugal.

United Kingdom

The relationship dates back to the Middle Ages in 1373 with the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance.

Angola

Portugal ruled Angola for 400 years, colonizing the territory from 1483 until independence in 1975. Angola's war for independence did not end in a military victory for either side, but was suspended as a result of a coup in Portugal, that replaced the Caetano regime with a Military junta.

East Timor

East Timor has an embassy in Lisbon whilst Portugal has an embassy in Dili. East Timor was an overseas territory of Portugal for over 400 years. Portugal was a strong advocate of independence for East Timor, which was occupied annexed by neighboring Indonesia between 1975 and 1999, and has committed troops and money to East Timor, in close cooperation with the United Nations, East Timor's Asian neighbors.

Mozambique

Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Portugal has an embassy in Maputo and a Consulate-General in Beira. Mozambique has an embassy in Lisbon.

Argentina

Formal relations between Portugal and Argentina began on May 26, 1812.

Argentina has an embassy in Lisbon.

Portugal has an embassy in Buenos Aires and three honorary consulates (in Comodoro Rivadavia, Mendoza and Rosario).

Both countries are full members of the Organization of Ibero-American States.

Argentine Ministry of Foreign Relations: list of bilateral treaties with Portugal (in Spanish only)

Armenia

Armenia is represented in Portugal through its embassy in Rome, Italy. Portugal is represented in Armenia through its embassy in Moscow, Russia.

Canada

Canada has an embassy in Lisbon. Portugal has an embassy in Ottawa.

Both nations are part of NATO.

Colombia

Formal relations began in 1857.

Colombia has an embassy in Lisbon.

Portugal has an embassy in Bogotá.

India

Relations between India and Portugal began amicably in 1947 when the former achieved independence. Relations went into decline after 1950 over Portugal's refusal to surrender its enclaves of Goa, Daman and Diu on India's west coast. By 1955, the two nations had cut off diplomatic relations, triggering a crisis which precipitated in the invasion of Portuguese India in 1961. Portugal refused to recognize Indian sovereignty over the annexed territories until 1974 when, following the Carnation Revolution, the new government in Lisbon recognized Indian sovereignty and restored diplomatic relations.

Relations have turned cordial since then and a number of state visits have been made, treaties have been signed. Indo-Portuguese bilateral trade grew from USD 69 million in 1991 to USD 289.52 million in 2005.

The Indian state of Goa hosted the 2013 Lusophony Games, the third edition of the multi-sport event for delegations representing every Portuguese-speaking National Olympic Committees.

Portugal has an embassy in New Delhi and a Consulate-General in its former colony Panjim, Goa.

India maintains an embassy in Lisbon.

Indonesia

In 1999, Indonesia and Portugal restored diplomatic relations, which were broken off following the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975. Indonesia has an embassy in Lisbon, and Portugal has an embassy in Jakarta.

Israel

Since 1959 Israel and Portugal were represented by Consulates General only. Full diplomatic relations with the Israeli government were established in 1977, following the Portuguese revolution of 1974.

North Korea

Since February 1975 the North Korea and Portugal has established diplomatic relations.

Mexico

Formal relations between Portugal and Mexico began on 20 October 1864.

Mexico has an embassy in Lisbon and honorary consulates in Faro and in Porto.

Portugal has an embassy in Mexico City and honorary consulates in Cancun, Monterrey and Veracruz city.

Both countries are full members of the Organization of Ibero-American States.

South Korea

On the sidelines of their meeting on April 10 the South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Portuguese counterpart Rui Machete signed the Memorandum of Understanding between South Korea and Portugal concerning a Working Holiday Program.

The Memorandum of understanding (MOU) was brought into force on April 10, 2014, allowing an annual 200 youngsters aged 18–30 of each country to stay in the other country for up to one year traveling and working.

South Korea is the first country Portugal has concluded such an MOU with The bilateral MOU is expected to offer opportunities to future leaders of the two countries to better understand each other’s cultures and promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Turkey

Turkey's 161 years of political relations with Portugal date back to the Ottoman period when the Visconde do Seixal was appointed as an envoy to Istanbul. Diplomatic relations ceased during World War I and were re-established in the Republican period in 1926. A resident embassy was established in 1957. Portugal has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Lisbon. Both countries are full members of NATO.

Portuguese embassy in Ankara

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Portugal

United States

Portugal was among the first nations to establish diplomatic ties with the United States. Contributing to the strong ties between the United States and Portugal are the 20,000 Americans living in Portugal and some sizable Portuguese communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, California, and Hawaii. The latest census estimates that 1.3 million individuals living in the United States are of Portuguese ancestry, with a large percentage coming from the Portuguese Autonomous region of the Azores.