Berlin, 3 January 2023 (dpa/MIA) – Germany aims to increase cooperation with Portugal on climate change, energy policy and protecting the sea, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday ahead of a  visit to the country.

“With its ambitious climate and energy policies, Portugal is confronting increasingly dry and hot summers,” Baerbock, a member of Germany’s Green party, said, adding: “We aim to combine our strengths even further, for example on climate and energy issues.”

Baerbock also highlighted Portugal’s support for Ukraine in resisting the Russian invasion, not only with arms, but by throwing the weight of the world’s Portuguese-speaking community into the scales. Portugal has supplied Ukraine with M 113 troop carriers.

She said Germany and Portugal were working together on many issues. “We are close partners – in the EU, in NATO, at the United Nations,” Baerbock said.

Portugal had realised at an early stage the key role played by the sea in preventing global warming and securing food supplies, Baerbock said. “We want to learn from each other here as well,” she said, noting that the German marine conservation commissioner, Sebastian Unger, was accompanying her on the visit.

Baerbock is to meet Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho in Lisbon later on Tuesday. On Wednesday she is to address the annual conference of the heads of Portugal’s missions abroad.