Portugal

Abstract

Historically, Portugal sees itself as a pioneer of globalization - to overcome the strategic dilemma summarized by Zurara in the epigraph -and consequently aims at an active global foreign policy, including diverse partnerships, which seem particularly wise in times of crisis. (Viana 1996; Teixeira/Barata 2003) Portugal wants to be a global security provider in a way that is compatible with its limited resources, i.e. acting multilaterally as a rule. The 2003 Strategic Concept presents Portugal as a “democratic Euro-Atlantic country” with a “global vocation”.