Spain, Portugal call for new approach to EU-Africa relations

by Margarida Pinto

On Monday, Spain and Portugal called for a new EU approach to relations with Africa at a ministerial meeting in Madrid, where the two countries reaffirmed their alignment on foreign policy and defence.

Portugal and Spain "fully share the defence of multilateralism in conflict resolution, within an integrated system of the United Nations and regional international organisations", "work for an international order based on international law", and "reaffirm their support for the secretary-general of the United Nations [Antonio Guterres] and his action in the resolution of all conflicts", reads a joint statement by the two countries.

The statement was released on Monday after a meeting of the two countries’ foreign and defence ministers in Madrid ahead of the annual Iberian summit, which will this year be held in Faro on Wednesday.

As announced by the Spanish government on Friday, Monday’s meeting served to "deepen coordination in the face of the international situation" in the Middle East, Ukraine, and the Sahel, among other regions.

Regarding Africa, the declaration emphasises that Portugal and Spain are two of the EU countries "closest" to the continent, which they see as "the one with the greatest opportunities and challenges for the coming decades."

The two countries "wish to see a renewed and holistic approach by the European Union towards Africa", the declaration adds, calling in particular for the deepening of existing cooperation in economic and social development, "but also in security and defence, both bilaterally and multilaterally", adapted to the needs of African partners.

It continues with a specific point relating to "cooperation in the field of defence industries", saying that Portugal and Spain "recognise the need to invest in defence as a means of preserving peace" and "undertake to strengthen dialogue and promote initiatives aimed at facilitating the joint work of their respective defence industries within the bilateral framework" and to "deepen forms of cooperation within the European Union and NATO".

Speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting, Portuguese Defence Minister Nuno Melo said that Portugal wanted to make "a very large investment" in the defence industry and "also open up this area to private investment", namely the "more technological areas", with Spain being "a large market" and a source of potential investors.

The minister argued that the defence industry is fundamental to maintaining and expanding Portugal’s military missions in various regions of the world, which are instruments of foreign policy and serve to defend democracy and peace.

Portugal’s national defence industry currently comprises some 30 companies and 30,000 jobs and accounts for around 2.5% of the country’s exports, he added.

*first published in: Euractiv.com