Seguro hails ‘very positive’ ties with France after Macron talks

Portugal’s President, António José Seguro, has described relations with France as being at a “very positive” stage following talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, highlighting stronger economic cooperation and plans to increase Portuguese exports.

Speaking to journalists after a working lunch with Macron yesterday (July 1), Seguro said the meeting had strengthened ties between the two countries and would help reinforce investor confidence.

“The meeting could not have gone better,” the President said. “This is a good moment in relations between Portugal and France, and that was reinforced during and at the end of the meeting.”

The two leaders reviewed cooperation across several areas, including the economy, culture and energy, while also discussing major international issues.

Seguro revealed that Macron had expressed his wish to hold the first Portugal-France summit under the friendship treaty signed last year, ideally before the end of 2026. The summit is expected to prioritise cooperation in areas including the teaching of Portuguese and French.

On foreign affairs, the Portuguese President said the two countries shared “common values”, particularly regarding support for multilateralism, the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and respect for international law and the United Nations Charter.

The leaders discussed the war in Ukraine, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the conflicts in the Middle East.

Seguro said lasting peace in the region would require dialogue between the United States and Iran, stability in Lebanon, and greater efforts to secure peaceful solutions and respect for human rights in Gaza.

He also said Portugal and France broadly agreed on the need for the European Union to strengthen its strategic autonomy.

“The meeting was very, very productive, and this also translates into a favourable investment climate,” he said.

Earlier, speaking to Portuguese business leaders at the Portuguese Embassy in Paris, Seguro praised their contribution to strengthening economic links between the two countries and called for greater Portuguese exports to the French market.

“It is very important that we increase our exports to France; that is a very clear objective,” he said.

The President also confirmed that African affairs featured in his discussions with Macron, including relations with Guinea-Bissau.

Seguro said he would welcome the President of Mozambique to Lisbon later this month for a cooperation meeting focused on Africa before making his own first official visit to the continent as President, beginning with Cabo Verde at the end of July.

The visit to Paris marked one of Seguro’s first high-level bilateral meetings since taking office and comes as Portugal and France seek to deepen political, economic and strategic cooperation under the friendship treaty signed in 2025.

Source: Lusa

Inês Lopes

Newspaper editor at The Portugal Resident