Portugal is one of UK’s essential partners in post-Brexit Europe

  • Lusa
  • 16 March 2021

According to the UK's strategic review of security, defence and foreign policy, Portugal is one of the European countries whose partnership it considers essential in post-Brexit international policy.

The UK has said Portugal is one of the European countries whose partnership it considers essential in post-Brexit international policy, according to a strategic review of security, defence and foreign policy published on Tuesday.

“We work with other European partners, including Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey on a dedicated set of interests where we can find common cause, such as values, free trade and a commitment to ‘transatlanticism’,” the document stated.

France, in terms of military cooperation, Germany, for economic relations, Ireland, due to historical and geographical proximity, and Poland, because of the defensive front in Eastern Europe, are prominent nations in terms of British interests.

Overall, the British government said in the document that European neighbours and allies remain crucial partners, promising to work together on issues such as combating climate change and for stability and security of the European continent, in particular from the Russian threat.

“We recognise the important role the EU plays for Europe’s peace and prosperity and will find new ways to work with it on common challenges,” it said.

The integrated security, defence, development and foreign policy review aims to set out the UK’s post-Brexit vision for international partnerships while reassessing the threats to the country.

“Our exit from the European Union offers a unique opportunity to reconsider many aspects of our domestic and foreign policy, building on existing friendships but also looking further afield,” it said, referring to the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region.

In addition to Japan, the United Kingdom proposes closer relations with India, Australia, South Korea and other regional powers such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.

The United Kingdom formalised in February its intention to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which Canada, Chile and Vietnam are also members.