The UAE and Portugal hold the first round of political consultations and enhance cooperation

The UAE and the Republic of Portugal held the first round of political consultations in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, where Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh headed the UAE delegation, while the Portuguese side was represented by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation at the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ana Isabel Xavier.

These consultations are of great importance in the course of bilateral relations between the UAE and Portugal, as they coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The two sides stressed the need to expand bilateral cooperation to take advantage of promising opportunities in a number of key areas, including political dialogue, trade and investment, energy, and defense, as well as enhancing communication between the two peoples, cultural cooperation, and other areas of common interest.

The two sides also discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation at the bilateral and European levels in light of the efforts of the UAE and the European Union to complete the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), as the UAE is the largest trading partner of the European Union in the Gulf region, and this agreement would open broad horizons to achieve mutual benefits for both sides.

The discussions also highlighted the most prominent political and security developments in Europe and the Middle East, as both sides stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in promoting peace, stability and sustainable development, and stressed the need to support all efforts aimed at reducing escalation, settling conflicts by peaceful means, and enhancing regional stability.

The two sides also exchanged views on multilateral cooperation, including Portugal’s prospective membership in the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027-2028, and benefiting from the UAE’s experiences through its previous membership in the Council. The two sides welcomed the close alignment of their priorities, and affirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in the areas of conflict prevention, protection of civilians, and maritime security, including the oceans, in addition to strengthening partnerships and intensifying coordination within the framework of the United Nations and other multilateral forums.

Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh was accompanied by the UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Portugal, Ahmed Al Mahmoud, and the Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE Mission to the United Nations, Ghasaq Shaheen.