"We are facing the threat from DAESH together as it advances around the world in real time", says Pedro Morenés

Furthermore, the minister said that, together, Spain and Portugal can have a strong political impact in Europe when achieving objectives and that the two countries would benefit enormously from greater cooperation.

The event, which was held at the headquarters of the Madrid Press Association, was attended by the Portuguese Defence Minister, José Pedro Correia de Aguiar-Branco, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Elcano Royal Institute, Rafael Estrella, and the Assistant Director of the ECFR, Francisco de Borja Lasheras.

An analysis was made of the possibilities for cooperation between Spain and Portugal on defence issues within the current European and regional and Atlantic context. To do so, representatives from a number of institutes and experts from Spain and Portugal gathered to draw up collaboration proposals for their governments aimed at advancing and further developing the cooperation that currently exists.

Great Cross of the 'Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique'

Following the close of the seminar, the Spanish minister travelled to the residence of the Portuguese Ambassador in Spain where his Portuguese counterpart presented him with the Great Cross of the 'Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique'.
This decoration is awarded in recognition of services rendered to Portugal, either nationally or overseas, or for services rendered for the expansion of Portuguese culture, history and values.