“In terms of bilateral diplomacy, we are clearly reinforcing it,” announced the head of diplomacy, at the beginning of a joint hearing on the 2026 State Budget (OE2026), of the parliamentary committees on Budget, Finance and Public Administration, Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities, and European Affairs.

“We are going to open the embassy in Vietnam now, we already have the approval for the new ambassador and we are taking care of the facilities,” he said.

Paulo Rangel indicated that the government is evaluating the reopening of diplomatic representation in the Philippines and the opening of a “consular office or even a consulate” in Nepal.

Furthermore, Portugal will reinforce its presence within the African Union (AU), a pan-African organization headquartered in the Ethiopian capital.

“For the first time, our ambassador in Addis Ababa will be a ‘full rank’ ambassador, at the top of his career,” Rangel emphasised, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) will “reinforce personnel” at the AU.

“Africa is today a continent where there are enormous risks; it deserves very, very special attention,” he said, adding that Africa is “Europe’s preferred partner” and, for Portugal, “a brotherly partner, which goes beyond simple diplomatic calculation.”