UAE, Portugal Hold First Political Consultations to Deepen Bilateral Cooperation
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: The United Arab Emirates and Portugal have held the inaugural round of Political Consultations in Lisbon, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations as the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
The UAE delegation was led by Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh, while Portugal was represented by Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dr. Ana Isabel Xavier.
During the consultations, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including political dialogue, trade and investment, energy, defence, cultural cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
The two delegations also explored ways to further enhance economic cooperation at both the bilateral and European levels. They discussed the ongoing efforts by the UAE and the European Union to finalise a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), noting that the UAE is the European Union’s largest trading partner in the Gulf and that the agreement could generate substantial mutual economic benefits.
Regional and international political and security developments, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, also featured prominently in the discussions. Both sides underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development, while stressing the need to support initiatives aimed at de-escalation, peaceful conflict resolution, and regional stability.
The consultations further covered multilateral cooperation, including Portugal’s upcoming tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term. The two sides exchanged experiences from the UAE’s recent Security Council membership and welcomed the close alignment of their priorities.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in conflict prevention, the protection of civilians, maritime security, including ocean governance, and enhancing coordination within the United Nations and other multilateral forums.
Lana Nusseibeh was accompanied by UAE Ambassador to Portugal Ahmad Al Mahmoud and Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations Ghasaq Shaheen during the consultations.
