Portugal beefs up defence cooperation with Greece

Portugal and Greece will strengthen cooperation in defence, with emphasis on industry and joint European projects, under an agreement signed on Monday by the Portuguese defence minister, João Gomes Cravinho and his Greek counterpart.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mr Cravinho revealed that the agreement addresses “a number of shared concerns” between the countries, “both on regional threats and on opportunities for defence industries to work together, for example”.

Greek Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos also revealed that the agreement includes the organisation of business forums for defence companies in both Lisbon and Athens.

“Matters ranging from our participation in projects within the framework of structured and permanent cooperation [PESCO], to our common membership in NATO, which is also in a phase of great evolution,” the Portuguese minister added.

Asked about the issue of migration, which particularly affects Greek territory, the minister stressed that the Portuguese government remains committed to working with Greece “and with other European partners” on a “problem that belongs to everyone.”

“Countries like Greece that are in the front line for geographical reasons and are receiving very high numbers of migrants that they cannot absorb, it is fair, it is right that they be redistributed. And Portugal has that availability,” he stressed.