Anatoly Maltsev/EPA
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.
The Portuguese Strategic Concept continues, on paper, to treat Russia as a relevant partner, even after NATO and the EU revised this formulation, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Portugal continues to have in force a National Defense Strategic Concept (CEDN) that looks to Russia as a relevant partner for European stability, even with the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and after a profound change in the geopolitical context since then.
The Portuguese document, approved in 2013, was seen by . Before Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, he claims that Portugal, as the founding country of NATO, is committed to “deepening relations with its strategic partners, including the European Union and Russia”. The same text also considers that the “bilateral partnership between NATO and Russia” is “critically important” for European stability.
More than a decade later, this formulation remains unchanged, warns the morning newspaper. The National Defense Strategic Concept has not yet been revised, although NATO and the European Union have already updated their main strategic guidance documents following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
At the Madrid summit in 2022, NATO approved a new strategic concept in which it no longer considers the Russian Federation as a partner. The Atlantic Alliance describes the invasion of Ukraine as “brutal and illegal”, accuses Moscow of violations of international humanitarian law, atrocious attacks, hostile threats and malicious interference.
The document admits the maintenance of communication channels with Moscow to reduce risks and prevent escalation, but emphasizes that any change in the relationship will depend on the end of Russia’s aggressive behavior and full compliance with international law.
Also in 2022, the European Union approved its Strategic Compass for Security and Defense, classifying the Russian war of aggression as a “tectonic shift” in European history. Brussels recalled the military intervention in Georgia, the illegal annexation of Crimea, the control exercised over Belarus and the presence of Russian forces in prolonged conflicts, including in Moldova. The EU also accuses Moscow of resorting to hybrid tactics, cyber attacks, information manipulation, energy coercion and aggressive nuclear rhetoric.
Despite all this, the current CEDN mentions Russia only in passing, does not identify it as a threat and maintains a cautious logic of cooperationinherited from the period after the end of the Cold War.
Melo pushes for Rangel, Rangel for NATO
The Portuguese review has been postponed successively, says Público. The Government committed to presenting a new version of the strategic concept, but the process was paralyzed during political instability that led to early elections in May 2025.
Defense Minister Nuno Melo said in Parliament that the Defense part had been completed several months ago and was awaiting contributions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Paulo Rangel argued that Portugal should wait for the review of the European strategy and the next NATO summit in Ankara before finalizing the document.
