Relations with North Africa: a new priority in Portuguese bilateral foreign policy?

Abstract:

Portugal remained quite distant from coastal North African states for many centuries. In 2017, having recently emerged as a prominent player across North Africa, Portugal’s relationship with the Maghreb countries was unprecedented in its history. Lisbon invested in building the Maghreb axis as a ‘new priority’ in the architecture of Portugal’s bilateral foreign policy. This policy took off, and was quickly beyond the rhetorical plan, where it stood for many years.

Portugal and its partner countries across the Mediterranean reiterated their willingness to keep up with the positive momentum, especially from the past 10 years, deepening bilateral political dialogue and bolstering trade relations. This article puts Portuguese relations with North Africa into context and offers an up-to-date analysis on recent (and ongoing) developments in Luso‒Maghreb relations.