The statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refers to a meeting held virtually by the Permanent Bilateral Commission (CBP) earlier in the month, which highlighted the intention to intensify “close collaboration with the United States that guarantees a strengthening of trade and investment flows.”

According to the declaration, the Secretary of State for Internationalisation, Eurico Brilhante Dias presented “Portuguese perspectives of socioeconomic recovery in the context of the pandemic Covid-19”, which include measures such as “market facilitation, containment of trade defence measures and promotion of partnerships on value chains.”

“Portugal reiterated its concern about the tariffs applied to Azorean dairy products, as well as with those currently under consideration in the review process”, said the joint statement adopted by CBP.

Some challenges are “disinformation” and investment in “critical areas for national security”, read in the note from the ministry.

The Permanent Bilateral Commission between Portugal and the United States indicates that there is “potential to explore more robust collaboration in cooperative maritime security and in the development of defence capabilities” between the two countries.

“The US and Portugal also agreed that it is vitally important to maintain defence investments during these turbulent times,” says CBP.
In this context, the Base of Lajes, in the Azores, was an important point of the meeting, with “a Portuguese proposal to redefine the perimeter of the Base” and with “progress in the discussions” on a Comprehensive Infrastructure Plan between Portugal and the USA, whose creation was mentioned at a CBP meeting in December 2017.

CBP also declares that it has registered “the plans for face-to-face follow-up discussions in San Antonio and Lajes” in relation to the technical results of sites 3001 and 5001.

For this commission, the Base das Lajes is proof of the “dynamism of the bilateral defence partnership” and of “Portugal’s contributions (…) to transatlantic and global security”.

CBP also highlights the “mutual commitment (…) in promoting the preservation and sustainable use of marine and ocean resources”
The two countries have “common interests in the development of the blue economy in various sectors and in strengthening bilateral relations in terms of cooperation in the areas of blue innovation, technology and marine clusters”, read in the CBP’s joint statement.

“Topics of mutual interest, such as the security of the Atlantic, the strategic role of the Azores and sub-Saharan Africa, remain on the agenda”, sustains CBP.

The next meeting of the Permanent Bilateral Commission between Portugal and the United States is scheduled for December, in Portugal. Bruno G. Santos