42Nd PORTUGAL – UNITED STATES STANDING BILATERAL

STANDING BILATERAL COMMISSION

December 17, 2019, Lisbon

JOINT STATEMENT

1. The Portugal-United States Standing Bilateral Commission (SBC) met December 17 in Lisbon for its 42nd session to discuss developments in the bilateral relationship and exchange views on matters of mutual interest, including the Transatlantic alliance, maritime security, investment screening, China, and developments in Latin America.

2. The SBC underlined the strategic nature of the Portugal - United States partnership and recalled the norms and values that underpin the centuries-old ties between our countries and citizens. Highlighting the importance of this special relationship, both sides reiterated their commitment to enhancing their Transatlantic partnership.

3. The SBC welcomed the sustained high-level dialogue between Portugal and the United States, in particular the recent discussions between U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva and the Minister of Defense João Cravinho, in Lisbon on December 5. During his visit, Secretary Pompeo also met with Prime Minister António Costa. The SBC also recalled the recent visits to Lisbon of the Commander, United States European Command, General Todd Wolters, on December 5, the Counselor of the State Department, T. Ulrich Brechbühl, on November 19, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Michael Murphy, on November 18,Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Energy Michael Considine in October, and the Chief Technology Officer of the United States Michael Kratsios on November 7.The SBC noted as well the visits to Portugal of congressional delegations led by Senator Richard Shelby (Alabama) and Congressmen William Keating (Massachusetts), and the meeting of Minister Augusto Santos Silva with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island) in Oslo on October 23.

4. Recalling NATO’s 70th anniversary, the SBC welcomed the outcomes of the London Leaders’ Meeting (December 3-4) and underscored the commitments made towards the strengthened vitality of the Alliance, which is adapting to a changing world with fair burden sharing.

5. Portugal and the United States once again underscored the Alliance’s vital and irreplaceable role, while stressing the importance of all NATO Allies fulfilling their commitments under the Wales Defense Investment Pledge to invest at least two percent of GDP in defense and 20 percent of defense spending on capability procurement. Portugal updated the SBC on its national plan to increase defense spending in line with the Wales Pledge. Portugal and the United States are both fully committed to the three dimensions of burden sharing: cash, contributions and capabilities.

6. As sea-faring nations, Portugal and the United States emphasized the strategic importance of the maritime domain, including for international commerce, energy security, countering transnational security threats, and risks associated with non-state actors, while pointing to the strategic nature of the Port of Sines and discussing Portugal’s ambitious expansion plans. The SBC recognized the importance of international efforts to ensure freedom of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz. The SBC also welcomed the complementary efforts and cooperation between NATO and the EU to ensure a secure global maritime domain, and explored ways of enhancing cooperation between Portugal and the United States, at both the bilateral level and within the NATO framework, in the promotion of a safe and secure maritime environment. The Commission welcomed the successful first seminar of the future Lajes-based Atlantic Center, which will benefit from the Atlantic location of the Azores in its efforts to promote maritime security. The SBC visited the future installations of the NATO Maritime Geospatial, Meteorological and Oceanographic Center of Excellence (NATO MARITIME GEOMETOC CoE), and the United States expressed interest in participating in the 2nd Establishment Conference in February 2020.

7. Portugal and the United States noted the strength of the bilateral defense partnership and the strategic importance of Lajes Air Field in this context, and to Atlantic and global security. The SBC recalled the substantial progress achieved over the last years in all areas related to Lajes Air Field and reiterated its commitment to continue consultations in a forward-looking manner.

8. The SBC received an update on the environmental situation related to the U.S presence at Lajes Air Field and on developments since its 41st session; recognized the work done on this matter over the past years; and invited continued engagement to resolve the remaining environmental concerns, including those at sites 3001 and 5001. The SBC encouraged both countries to conclude discussions on an Environmental Roadmap in an appropriate forum.

9. Portugal and the United States underscored their shared commitment to promoting human rights around the world. As democracies with established safeguards for fundamental rights, such as freedom of religion and the right to peaceful assembly, the United States and Portugal agreed to continue working together to uphold shared interests and core values in the face of activities by regimes that seek to limit these values at home and abroad.

10. Portugal and the United States recalled the legitimacy of interim President Juan Guaidó and the National Assembly, and reiterated the importance of continued support to the restoration of democracy in Venezuela, notably through the holding of free, fair, and transparent elections.

11. On cooperation with the Azores, Portugal requested that the United States grant a preferential arrangement to the Azores dairy exporters and producers that exempts them from the additional tariffs imposed by the United States on certain EU products. The United States encouraged Portugal to take advantage of the opportunity to submit a public comment on the tariffs and requested that Portugal work within the EU to end the unfair EU trade practices identified by the World Trade Organization’s large civil aircraft arbitration decision. Both parties discussed how to increase joint activities in the U.S. and Portuguese markets to boost bilateral investments as well as trade in goods and services in 2020. The United States highlighted that 2020 will mark the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Consulate in the Azores, and announced its intention to organize a month-long campaign of visits and programs that highlight the special connections between the United States and the Azores in May 2020.

12. On investment screening, the SBC further deepened ongoing engagement and improved mutual understanding of both the implementation work of the new EU framework and U.S. legislative updates. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ensure predictable, rules-based screening processes that preserve openness to foreign direct investment (FDI) while mitigating any risks to national security and

sovereignty, including by avoiding the use of untrusted vendors in communications and national security sensitive infrastructure.

13. The SBC welcomed the U.S. request for associate observer status in the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) and looks forward to a favorable decision at the next CPLP Conference of Heads of State and Government, due to take place in 2020 in Luanda, Angola. Portugal and the United States highly value their regular consultations on African issues and look forward to increased cooperation in this field.

14. The Justice and Home Affairs Committee provided updates to the SBC. Portugal and the United States noted their shared intention to initiate discussions on possible MoUs in the areas of 5G and cyber and hybrid security. The Commission lauded the signing of the Asset Sharing Agreement.

15. The SBC welcomed the signing, on October 25 at Casa Carlucci, of a Sister Park Agreement between the Peneda-Gerês National Park and North Cascades National Park, as well as the establishment of the first U.S.-Portugal Friendship Forest in the Pinhal de Leiria on November 16. The Science, Technology, Energy and Environment Committee briefed the SBC on new initiatives in a range of fields, such as smart cities, artificial intelligence, space, higher education, and research and innovation. The SBC noted that the next high-level meeting of the Atlantic International Research Center (AIR Center) will take place at Penn State University in May 2020.

16. The SBC decided to hold its next meeting in Washington, D.C. in spring 2020.