The Role of Portugal in the International Context

Abstract

A year ago, Portugal celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the so-called Revolution of the Carnations, which marked the beginning of an unstoppable process of democratization and the ensuing full incorporation of Portugal into the institutionalized international community. The Portugal’s opting for orderly decolonialization and full integration into the world of international law has twice brought it a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and also the Presidency of the UN General Assembly. In the area of security and defense, Portugal began an unprecedented change of course. Its traditional alliance with NATO has been strengthened by new strategic concepts and by its incorporation into new peacekeeping and international security programs in organizations such as the UN, the Western European Union, the OSCE, and even withinthe framework of the European Union where it participates quite actively in accordance with its level in relation to the other members. Also analyzed are the process of incorporation into Community institutions and its direct, precise participation in the evolution they have followed in recent years, with it now being fully integrated into all the areas of regional integration from the "eurozone” to the Schengen framework. The article also points out the gains this very rational choice has brought. Finally, the changes that have come about in bilateral relations with Spain are analyzed.