Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro is set to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York today, as part of a three-day official visit to the United States. Montenegro will participate in the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he will deliver a speech on Thursday. His agenda for the day begins with a participation in the Crimea International Platform Summit at 9:00 AM local time.
The meeting with Guterres is a significant event, as it marks the Secretary-General's last year in office, having served two consecutive five-year terms. Montenegro has made it a point to meet with Guterres on his first day in New York, to express his gratitude for the Secretary-General's commitment to defending the UN Charter and multilateralism. After the meeting, Montenegro will participate in the launch of the Ocean Eye platform.
The Ocean Eye platform is a new European project aimed at strengthening ocean observation and improving access to essential marine data for science, economy, and environmental protection. Montenegro will be the first head of government to intervene in this project, which is being presided over by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
In addition to the meeting with Guterres and the launch of Ocean Eye, Montenegro's agenda includes several bilateral meetings, including with Angolan President João Lourenço and East Timorese President José Ramos Horta. He will also participate in a climate initiative promoted by the UN Secretary-General, known as the Climate Summit.
On Thursday, Montenegro will deliver a speech at the high-level session of the 81st UN General Assembly. This event is significant for Portugal, as the country will take its seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on January 1, 2027, for a two-year term. Portugal was elected with the highest vote ever in a Portuguese candidacy to the Council.
Portugal has previously been a member of the UN Security Council in 1979-1980, 1997-1998, and 2011-2012. The country has always been elected when it has run for a seat. The UN General Assembly is the organ where 193 member states sit on an equal footing, but it is the Security Council that takes binding decisions, with five major powers holding permanent seats with veto power.
The representation of Portugal in the annual UN debate has alternated between the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister. Montenegro's participation in the General Assembly is his second, after his debut in 2024. He will be representing Portugal at a critical time, as the country prepares to take on a new role in the UN Security Council.
Key points
- Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro meets with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York.
- Montenegro participates in meetings on oceans and climate, including the launch of the Ocean Eye platform.
- Portugal to take seat as non-permanent member of UN Security Council on January 1, 2027.
