# Cape Verde–Portugal relations

Cape Verde–Portugal relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cabo Verde and the Portuguese Republic. Both nations are members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries and the United Nations. The relationship has consistently been described as "excellent" by both countries.
This bilateral partnership is rooted in historical, linguistic, and cultural connections dating back to the 15th century when Portuguese explorers first discovered the Cape Verde islands. The enduring legacy of Portuguese colonization is evident in Cape Verde’s language, religion, and institutional structures, such as its legal and educational systems.
Today, Portugal is Cape Verde's most significant trade partner and a key diplomatic ally. The two nations cooperate closely in various sectors, including development aid, defense, education, and tourism. The strong cultural and social ties between the two countries are reinforced by the significant Cape Verdean diaspora residing in Portugal.

## History

The islands of Cape Verde were discovered between 1460 and 1462 by Portuguese and Genoese sailors in the service of the Portuguese Crown. There is no evidence of human settlement on Cape Verde prior to the arrival of the Portuguese. Due to Cape Verde's proximity to the African coast, Portuguese sailors began to settle on the islands and given their strategic position, the islands served as a trading and supply warehouse, with particular emphasis on the Atlantic slave trade, particularly to Brazil. By the 19th century, the slave traded ended for Cape Verde, and many people of African origin settled on the islands and mixed with many of the Portuguese settlers creating the predominantly mestiça society of the islands today.
In 1956, Amílcar Cabral created the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), fighting against colonialism and starting a march for independence. In 1972, during the Portuguese Colonial War, autonomy was granted to the islands and Portuguese Cape Verde held its only parliamentary elections in 1973, however, unlike other Portuguese colonies, there was no armed conflict in Cape Verde, and ultimately independence for Cape Verde resulted from negotiation with Portugal after the April 1974 Carnation Revolution. Cape Verde was granted independence on 5 July 1975.
Since independence, relations between Cape Verde and Portugal have remained strong. Both nations share many cultural similarities, as Portuguese influence remains deeply embedded in various aspects of Cape Verdean society, including the predominance of Catholicism introduced by the Portuguese. While the direct Portuguese-born population in Cape Verde is relatively small, many of Cape Verde's inhabitants have Portuguese ancestry.
The Portuguese languge is the official language of Cape Verde, used in government, media, and education, while Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu), a blend of Portuguese and West African languages, is widely spoken in daily life.
There have also been several high-level visits between the leaders of both nations, and the both countries work closely together within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. Since taking office in 2016, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has made 8 visits to Cape Verde, making it one of the most frequently visited countries by the Portuguese president.
Both nations have worked to maintained a strong and cooperative relationship with regular high-level bilateral summits. In January 2025, Portugal and Cape Verde convened the VII Portugal-Cape Verde Summit in Lisbon, where 30 bilateral agreements were signed across a wide variety of topics, further underscoring the deepening partnership between the two nations.

## Development assistance

Portugal is a key provider of development aid to Cape Verde, offering financial support, technical assistance, and capacity-building programs to promote sustainable development and economic growth in the archipelago.
A significant milestone in this partnership was the signing of the 2022-2026 Strategic Cooperation Programme during the VI Portugal-Cape Verde Summit held in Praia. Valued at approximately €95 million, this program encompasses various sectors, including education, health and justice administration.
In the end of 2022, Portugal granted an additional €583,462 in humanitarian aid to help Cape Verde address the cumulative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global food crisis, and prolonged drought conditions. This assistance included €560,000 in direct budget support to strengthen food security and 6.7 tonnes of powdered milk valued at over €23,000, distributed by the Portuguese Navy.
In June 2023, Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa agreed to convert €140 million of Cape Verde's debt into investments for the archipelago's environmental and climate fund. This "debt-for-nature" swap was designed to bolster Cape Verde's resilience against climate change and support local efforts to invest in renewable energy production.
More recently, in 2025, the bilateral partnership was further strengthened during the VII Portugal-Cape Verde Summit held in Lisbon. Portugal launched a new line of credit worth up to €100 million for Cape Verdean business investment projects and significantly increased its contribution to Cape Verde's Climate and Environmental Fund from €12.5 million to €42.5 million.
As Cape Verde's primary development partner, Portugal has invested hundreds of millions of euros in the archipelago over the years. Between 2011 and 2014, Cape Verde received over €100 million annually in official development assistance from Portugal. In subsequent years, this amount decreased and has since stabilized at around €16 million per year. A significant focus of this type of Portuguese aid has been the provision of credit lines and concessional loans for infrastructure development, as well as investments in social housing and renewable energy projects.

## Trade

In 1998, Cape Verde and Portugal signed a trade agreement.
In 2022, bilateral trade between Portugal and Cape Verde totaled approximately $417.9 million, with Portugal exporting around $407 million worth of goods to Cape Verde and importing about $10.9 million from Cape Verde.
Trade between Portugal and Cape Verde is characterized by a significant imbalance, with Portugal exporting substantially more to Cape Verde than it imports. Portugal is Cape Verde’s most significant trade partner, serving as its largest source of imports, accounting for 41% of Cape Verde’s total imports and acting as the second-largest destination for its exports, representing 11.8% of total exports.
Portugal's primary exports to Cape Verde included refined petroleum ($56.6M), cement ($21M), and raw iron bars ($13.3M). Over the past five years, Portugal’s exports to Cape Verde have grown significantly, increasing from $339 million in 2017 to $407 million in 2022. This steady growth reflects Cape Verde’s ongoing reliance on Portuguese goods, particularly in construction and energy sectors, reflecting the close economic ties between the two nations.
In 2022, Cape Verde exported $10.9 million worth of goods to Portugal, with clothing products leading the list, including footwear parts ($2.74 million) and knit T-shirts ($1.97 million). Over the past five years, Cape Verde’s exports to Portugal have decreased, dropping from $18.7 million in 2017 to $10.9 million in 2022.

## Defense

Portugal and Cape Verde share a strategic defense cooperation focused on training, joint operations, and the enhancement of security capabilities, particularly in maritime security and international peacekeeping contexts.
Since Cape Verde’s independence, the Portuguese Armed Forces have supported the training of Cape Verdean military personnel, preparing them for both national defense and international missions. This cooperation has enabled Cape Verde to contribute effectively to peacekeeping operations and humanitarian missions.
In recent years, a notable example of ongoing defense collaboration has been the regular deployment of Portuguese P-3C Orion aircraft to Cape Verde for maritime surveillance missions. These operations are aimed at monitoring the Atlantic Ocean, with a particular focus on Cape Verde's Exclusive Economic Zone, to enhance maritime security and detect illegal activities. Some of these missions are integrated in the Africa Partnership Station program.

## Education

Portugal supports Cape Verde’s education sector through scholarships and exchange programs, enabling Cape Verdean students to pursue higher education in Portuguese universities.
Portugal is the leading provider of scholarships to Cape Verdean students and the primary destination for those receiving government-funded scholarships from Cape Verde to study abroad. This policy of offering study opportunities and scholarships is a contribution widely acknowledged within the country.
Many members of Cape Verde's political and intellectual elite, including the current Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, have studied in Portugal. This longstanding trend has helped shape Cape Verde’s leadership, as many young Cape Verdeans have pursued higher education in Portugal, benefiting from its well-established academic system.
The Portuguese School in Praia is a symbol of the strong educational cooperation between Portugal and Cape Verde. Established in 2016, it has rapidly expanded, serving 883 students from preschool to 10th grade by 2023. The school is set to continue its growth, with plans to offer 11th and 12th grades in order to meet the increasing demand. The school operates with financial support from the Portuguese State Budget and under a bilateral cooperation agreement signed in 2012, employing 67 teachers and 47 staff members to support its operations.

## Diaspora

Cape Verdeans are the third largest foreign community in Portugal, with 48,885 residents, representing 4.7% of the total foreign population. The majority initially migrated for work opportunities, particularly in construction and service industries. Most reside in the Lisbon metropolitan area, particularly in neighborhoods like Cova da Moura, which is often called the "eleventh island" due to its large Cape Verdean population.

## Transportation

There are direct flights between both nations with the following airlines: Cabo Verde Airlines and TAP Air Portugal.

## Resident diplomatic missions

* Cape Verde has an embassy in Lisbon.
* Portugal has an embassy in Praia.
* Embassy of Cape Verde in Lisbon
* Embassy of Portugal in Praia