Portugal should foster dialogue and cooperation among Atlantic nations The Atlantic Centre should create a multilateral dialogue and cooperation platform, stated the Minister[...]

Portugal should make the best possible use of its good relations with all the Atlantic nations to foster dialogue and cooperation, said the Portuguese Minister of Defence João Gomes Cravinho at a seminar organized by The Atlantic Centre in Lisbon.

This is "an audacious, yet timely challenge. It has never been done before, but the times we are living have forced us to come together", as the international context "continues to shift quickly and dramatically" and it is necessary for countries "to adapt and make the best use possible of the tools that ensure peaceful relations", thereby contributing "to global peace and security".

Among the challenges identified in the Atlantic, Gomes Cravinho noted "countering criminal and illegal activities that undermine the safety and well-being of populations", "the potential negative impacts of the growing geopolitical activity", and "managing the human impact of climate change"

"It is therefore of crucial importance to claim the singular role the Atlantic has in the global economy, in international relations, in the fight against climate change and as a region for peaceful and cooperation relations", he said.

Centre for Dialogue

Noting that the development of "common projects that respond to the needs of all those involved will take time and be challenging", the Minister stated that by developing the Atlantic Centre, the Government has invested in the long run, envisaging that it will last for several decades.

The Centre is a commitment by the Government to "lead the development of a multilateral dialogue and cooperation platform among all the Atlantic nations".

"It is our responsibility to use in the best way possible the longstanding good relations Portugal has with all of the Atlantic nations to foster dialogue and cooperation", he underlined.

Dialogue, knowledge, and capability

In a statement to Lusa press agency, Gomes Cravinho highlighted that the creation of dialogue and projects is done in three levels.

The political level, that aims to create dialogue among Governments on governing the Atlantic; collaboration at the level of the research institutes, so "we may have an exchange of knowledge and ideas about the Atlantic", and the "creation of capabilities, for instance on the African west coast, to lead the problems with the ocean in that region".

Gomes Cravinho recalled that the major themes of the Atlantic respect no borders and noted that "there is a clear lack of dialogue and understanding" between the countries, which is a clear illustration of the need to have The Atlantic Centre.

European Union

There is now growing awareness of the importance of maritime security in the defence priorities in the European Union, even from countries that do not have a coastline, because "their imports and exports are oftentimes transported by sea", while "there are some countries, like Portugal, that are much more turned to the sea".

Notwithstanding, "in the final draft of the Strategic Compass [the EU's strategic defence paper, which should be completed by March 2022], maritime security will feature in a highly relevant manner", he said.

The Atlantic Centre was created in 2019 and currently operates in the National Defence Institute in Lisbon. It is expected that as of 2022 it will be based on Terceira Island, in the Azores.