Political relations between India and Portugal

April 25, 2024 at 9:00 pm

The relationship between India and Portugal is characterized by warmth and friendship. Portugal recognizes India as a vibrant pluralistic democracy, a significant global economy, and an ancient civilization with deep historical and cultural connections. Portugal has consistently advocated for India's permanent membership in key international forums such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Notably, the concept of initiating an India-EU Summit was first proposed by Portugal during the tenure of current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as Prime Minister, leading to the inaugural summit held in Lisbon under the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union in 2000, with the presence of Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee.

High-Level Visits

From India to Portugal:

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi (June 24, 2017)

- Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the First India-EU Summit in Lisbon under the Portuguese Presidency of the EU (June 2000)

- President K. R. Narayanan (1998)

- President R. Venkataraman (1990)

From Portugal to India:

- State visit of the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (February 13-16, 2020)

- Prime Minister Antonio Costa's visit to New Delhi to attend the meeting of the Organizing Committee on global commemorations of Bapu@150; he also held bilateral discussions with PM Modi (December 19, 2019)

- State visit of Prime Minister António Costa (January 6-12, 2017)

- Prime Minister José Sócrates' visit to attend the 8th India-EU Summit during the 3rd Portuguese Presidency of the EU (December 2007)

- President Aníbal Cavaco Silva (January 2007)

- Visit of President Mário Soares as Chief Guest at the Republic Day Celebrations (January 1992)

- Prime Minister Mário Soares' visit to attend the funeral of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (October 1984)