Lisbon: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is scheduled to make an official visit to Portugal on Monday, where he will engage in significant diplomatic discussions to enhance the relationship between the two nations. During his visit, Fidan will meet with his Portuguese counterpart, Paulo Rangel, for both one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings, with a focus on advancing bilateral relations.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan and Rangel are expected to explore ways to strengthen consultations on regional issues, deepen trade and economic cooperation, and discuss increasing mutual investments. The discussions will also cover the implementation of joint projects in critical areas such as energy, infrastructure, transportation, and port management. Fidan aims to emphasize the importance of Trkiye's participation in EU-led security and defense initiatives, as well as projects and programs that are part of the EU's industrial strategy.
The diplomatic relationship between Trkiye and Portugal dates back to 1926, following Portugal's involvement in the Treaty of Lausanne. As a testament to their longstanding ties, both countries are planning joint events in 2026 to celebrate the centenary of diplomatic relations.
The trade volume between Trkiye and Portugal has shown steady growth, amounting to $2.9 billion in 2024 and reaching $3.1 billion in the first ten months of 2025. Defense cooperation is another area of strengthened ties, highlighted by the steel-cutting ceremony on November 14, 2025, in Istanbul. This event marked the beginning of the construction of two auxiliary replenishment and logistics vessels for Portugal, underscoring the long-term defense collaboration between the two countries.