Macron, Draghi, and Rutte to visit Portugal
Portugal’s busy diplomatic calendar in a crucial moment in world politics underscores its ability to punch above its weight as a hub for international cooperation and dialogue.
Portugal is preparing for a month of high-profile political engagements as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and French President Emmanuel Macron are all set to visit the country in the coming weeks.
Rutte
On Monday, January 27, 2025, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will arrive in Lisbon to meet with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Foreign Affairs Minister Paulo Rangel, and Defense Minister Nuno Melo.
Following their discussions, a press conference is scheduled for 1:45 PM (local time), where Rutte is expected to address key issues related to NATO’s priorities and Portugal’s role within the alliance.
Mark Rutte’s visit follows the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. President, who has called for NATO members to spend a staggering 5% of their GDP on defense—more than double the alliance’s current 2% target. This demand has caused alarm among Europe’s cash-strapped governments, as no NATO member currently meets this level of spending.
In 2024, the U.S. allocated 3.4% of its GDP to defense, while Poland came closest to the proposed target, spending 4.12% and planning to increase this to 4.7% in 2025.
By contrast, Portugal spends about 1.5% of its GDP on defense, despite being one of NATO’s 12 founding members and having already committed to reaching the 2% target.
In December, NATO’s new Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, urged member nations to adopt “a wartime mindset” in their national planning. However, he emphasized that it is too early to set a precise defense spending goal.
Draghi
Two days later, on January 29, Mario Draghi will participate in a meeting of the Portuguese Council of State, convened by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The meeting, scheduled for 4:00 PM, will focus on “perspectives and challenges for the future of the European Union.”
Draghi, who previously attended a similar meeting in 2016 during Marcelo’s first term as President and, in 2019, he was honored by President Marcelo with the Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry.
He enjoys enormous prestige and legitimacy due to his pivotal role as former President of the European Central Bank (ECB) and former Italian Prime Minister and, most recently, as the author of the long-awaited Draghi Report on “The Future of European Competitiveness”.
Ordered by the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the 400-page document was presented in September 9 and served as a roadmap for the new European Commission’s agenda (2024-2029). It calls for a major economic shift in Europe, addressing deficiencies like insufficient public and private investment. Key priorities include fostering innovation, reforming regulations, and boosting R&D through measures like creating a European ARPA, supporting seed capital, and simplifying frameworks. He also advocates for reforms to the electricity market and EU industrial policies in clean technologies and electric vehicles.
Draghi highlights the need to strengthen Europe’s fragmented defense industry by creating an EU Defense Industry Authority to aggregate demand, fund procurement, and prioritize European-made equipment.
On strategic autonomy, the report stresses reducing reliance on third countries through increased defense spending, securing critical minerals, and supporting free trade agreements for economic security.
Finally, Draghi argues for aligning decarbonization with competitiveness, warning that poor execution risks undermining Europe’s economy, particularly if reliant on subsidized Chinese technologies.
Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Portugal on February 27–28 for an official state visit. Macron is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to strengthen bilateral relations and sign a Friendship Treaty between Portugal and France.
This visit marks a renewed effort to deepen ties between the two nations after an official trip planned for 2023 was postponed due to the political crisis that led to Portugal’s parliamentary dissolution.
Macron and Montenegro last met in Paris on June 19, 2024, where they discussed intensifying cooperation in trade, cultural exchanges, science, and innovation.
Macron’s visit will include a solemn session at the Assembleia da República on February 27.
Both Macron and Assembly President José Pedro Aguiar-Branco will deliver speeches, with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro in attendance.