1. The Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic, Paulo Rangel, the Minister of National Defence of the Portuguese Republic, Nuno Melo, Spain's Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, and Spain's Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, held the second 2+2 meeting in Madrid on 21 October. This meeting has been held regularly since the signing of the Treaty of Friendship in Trujillo in 2021 and reflects the distinctive nature of the excellent ties of friendship and cooperation that unite our two countries. At the same time, it provides us with an excellent opportunity to consolidate our shared strategic interests as partners, allies and members of the European Union.
2. This 2+2 meeting, which precedes the Iberian Summit of the two governments to be held on 23 October, has served to highlight the two countries' shared positions on foreign policy and defence. In an extremely complex and volatile global situation, it is necessary to address the serious challenges to international peace and security: Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East and instability in the Sahel, as well as the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan and the gravity of the situation in the Great Lakes region.
3. Spain and Portugal are fully united in their support for multilateralism in resolving conflicts, within an integrated system of the United Nations and regional international organisations. Spain and Portugal work towards a fair, inclusive, rules-based international order founded on international law and solidarity. Spain and Portugal reaffirm their support for the United Nations Secretary-General and his efforts to resolve all conflicts.
4. Spain and Portugal support the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and recall with particular concern the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.
[COOPERATION IN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRIES]
5. Spain and Portugal recognise the need to invest in defence as a means of preserving peace. They undertake to strengthen dialogue and promote initiatives to facilitate joint work between their respective defence industries at bilateral level, and to deepen cooperation within the European Union and NATO, helping to affirm the Iberian Peninsula's role and commitment in strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and both countries' contribution and commitment to the security of the transatlantic area
[NATO]
6. Spain and Portugal, NATO partners and allies, undertake to give even greater impetus to the “Strategic Concept" adopted in Madrid in 2022, as well as to the recent Washington Summit Declaration. Spain and Portugal agree on a 360-degree approach to Euro-Atlantic security, including the need to address both the eastern flank and instability emanating from the South.
7. As a demonstration of their commitment to this approach and of their solidarity, Spain and Portugal make, and will continue to make, a significant contribution of forces and capabilities to NATO's new defence plans. They will continue to cooperate closely on the deterrence and defence pillar, as in the deployment of Portuguese and Spanish forces in Romania or in Slovakia, with Spain as the framework nation.
8. Spain and Portugal thank Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for his work and wish the new Secretary General, Mark Rutte, every success in this new phase, which is decisive for the Atlantic Alliance's credibility and its adaptation to the challenges it faces.
9. Spain and Portugal welcome the appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary General for the Southern Neighbourhood. They will therefore take forward work within NATO, considering specific initiatives to promote political dialogue and deepen practical cooperation on matters of common interest with partners in the Southern Neighbourhood, as well as to consolidate a more structured and coherent approach by the Alliance to this geographical area. We also reiterate the commitment made in the aforementioned 2022 Strategic Concept to provide greater and broader assistance to vulnerable partners in the South.
[EU]
10. Spain and Portugal support the enlargement of the European Union, which must proceed in parallel with reform of the Union, while recognising that enlargement is a strategic investment in the peace, stability and prosperity of our continent. They therefore welcome the progress being made in accession negotiations, including with Ukraine and Albania.
11. Spain and Portugal reaffirm their commitment to strengthening relations between Europe and the Mediterranean, advocating a deeper and renewed EU–Southern Neighbourhood Partnership, and welcome the priority given to the region in the new European institutional cycle, particularly the appointment of a Commissioner for the Mediterranean and the commitment to developing the New Pact for the Mediterranean. They hope that the fifth EU–Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial Meeting will help strengthen relations with the Southern Neighbourhood and define the New Pact, taking into account the proposals contained in the non-paper “Strengthening the Southern Neighbourhood Policy: Towards a True Mediterranean Partnership", and that the ninth Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) will approve the terms of a future strategic reform plan, in line with the non-paper “An Ambitious and Sustainable Reform of the Union of the Mediterranean". Both sides reaffirm the importance of these ministerial meetings, which will be held in Barcelona on 28 October.
12. Spain and Portugal undertake to work even more closely to advance the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, including the development of the Common Security and Defence Policy, as well as cross-cutting issues such as the defence industry and maritime security.
13. Combating piracy, freedom of navigation, food security and securing global supply chains are shared objectives in maritime security. Our countries play a very active role in EU Operation ATALANTA, in which Portugal has just taken over force command from Spain.
[MIDDLE EAST]
14. Spain and Portugal reaffirm their commitment to stability in the Middle East in the face of escalating regional tensions.
15. Spain and Portugal have condemned Iran's attacks on Israel in April and October and call on the parties to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid a regional war.
16. Spain and Portugal reiterate their concern over Israel's ground operation in Lebanon and indiscriminate attacks on populated areas, and condemn the attacks on UNIFIL, a mission led by Spanish General Aroldo Lázaro, whose personnel they thank for their professionalism and dedication. They recall that these attacks violate international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and therefore demand that the parties fulfil their obligation to ensure the safety of the Lebanese civilian population and UNIFIL personnel. Both countries call for a ceasefire in Lebanon to allow de-escalation and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
17. In the face of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, they reiterate the need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire — key to de-escalating tensions across the region — to allow the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and the entry of humanitarian aid on a massive scale. Both countries support the efforts of humanitarian actors, especially UNRWA, which is essential for millions of Palestinians in the region, particularly in the humanitarian context in Gaza. Spain and Portugal undertake to maintain their political and financial support for UNRWA and reject attempts to criminalise it and prevent it from operating in the Palestinian territories.
18. Spain and Portugal reiterate their support for the return of the Palestinian Authority as soon as possible as the sole government of all the Palestinian territories, and support Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa's reforms. Both countries undertake to promote stabilisation measures, including sanctions against violent settlers in the West Bank, additional measures to combat Hamas terrorism and the redeployment of EU missions in the Palestinian territories when conditions allow.
19. They also agree that implementing the two-state solution, in accordance with international law and the relevant UN resolutions, is the only way to resolve the Middle East conflict definitively and the basis for a just and lasting peace in the region. They support concrete and irreversible steps towards implementing the two-state solution, including holding an international peace conference as soon as possible. Spain and Portugal undertake to continue working towards this goal within the EU and the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, promoted by the EU and the Ministerial Contact Group on Gaza of the League of Arab States and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
[RUSSIA'S AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE]
20. Portugal and Spain reiterate their condemnation of Russia's illegal and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and a threat to European and international security and stability.
21. Portugal and Spain reaffirm their commitment to the principles of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and, in this regard, support Ukraine's efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on respect for the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
22. Portugal and Spain reiterate their commitment to continuing to provide political, financial and economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine for as long as necessary, in coordination with their partners and allies.
23. Spain and Portugal welcome the progress made in Ukraine's accession process to the European Union, the latest milestone being the holding of an intergovernmental conference in June 2024, while encouraging Ukraine to continue taking forward the reform process it has embarked upon. Ukraine will continue to receive Spain and Portugal's resolute support in all these efforts.
24. Spain and Portugal took part in the Ukraine Mine Action Conference held in Lausanne on 17 and 18 October, demonstrating their commitment to civilian demining activities in Ukraine. Spain and Portugal will continue to explore avenues for cooperation in this and other areas in which both sides are working on Ukrainian territory, such as the energy sector.
[AFRICA]
25. Spain and Portugal are two of the European Union countries closest to Africa, the continent offering the greatest opportunities and challenges in the coming decades. In this regard, Spain's Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, provided information on the new Spain–Africa Strategy, which will be presented shortly, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic, Paulo Rangel, reported on the growing dynamism of the CPLP, which now has 33 observer members, including Spain since 2021.
26. Spain and Portugal recognise the close alignment of their strategic security and defence interests and challenges in Africa, particularly in regions such as the Sahel, the Gulf of Guinea, Cabo Delgado and the Central African Republic. Both countries seek a renewed and holistic European Union approach to Africa that deepens existing cooperation on economic and social development, as well as security and defence, at both bilateral and multilateral levels, adapting it to the needs of our African partners, including within the framework of the European Peace Facility. In this context, they welcome the recent proposal to appoint Professor João Gomes Cravinho as EU Special Representative for the Sahel.
27. Both countries share concerns about recent regional dynamics that have led to multiple crises in the Sahel and the subsequent deterioration in the humanitarian situation. They will continue to reflect jointly on how to adapt our strategies, priorities and instruments to current challenges, consistently taking a humanitarian–development–peace nexus approach and bearing in mind the crucial interconnections between security, development and climate change.
28. Spain and Portugal will strengthen their cooperation with African regional integration organisations, particularly the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). They also undertake to promote a timetable for the EU–AU ministerial meeting and summit and to advance relations between the two organisations. They recognise the need for the African Union to continue paying particular attention to the security challenges facing the continent.
29. Spain and Portugal stress the importance of continued EU support for Mauritania and Chad, as well as the need to maintain open channels of communication with Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso as appropriate.
30. The Gulf of Guinea has gained greater significance owing to the increase in maritime traffic resulting from the crisis in the Red Sea. Spain and Portugal recognise the valuable work the EU is doing in this priority region, which is affected by instability in the Sahel. They agree on the need to preserve maritime security, maintaining their longstanding support for the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security. This region is also a priority area for defence cooperation between Spain and Portugal. Both countries underline the importance of promoting closer cooperation between the EU and this region.
31. Portugal and Spain agree on the importance of maintaining European support, including within the framework of the European Peace Facility, for the stabilisation process in Cabo Delgado (Mozambique), in response to requests submitted by the Government of Mozambique.
32. Portugal and Spain deplore the killings that took place last weekend in the post-election context in Maputo, and hope that the Mozambican justice system will act swiftly and effectively. They also call for restraint and the renunciation of all forms of violence, considering it essential that citizens can await the official announcement of the results of the country's latest elections calmly and safely.
33. On development cooperation, Spain and Portugal will continue to explore opportunities for cooperation in sub-Saharan African countries, drawing on their experience and shared areas of work in countries such as Ethiopia and the Portuguese-speaking countries of Cabo Verde and Mozambique, in sectors such as governance and the improvement of public services, infrastructure development, and health and the strengthening of health systems.
34. Portugal and Spain highlight the value of the 5+5 Defence Initiative, recognising the success and work of the Portuguese and Spanish Presidencies in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
—NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION—