European Defense, EU-US relations, and Mercosur take center stage at the new La Toja Forum in Lisbon

The Diplomat The headquarters of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon will host this coming Tuesday, April 1, a new edition of the La Toja Forum-Atlantic Link. The Forum is being held "at a time of growing trade tensions and amidst debate on the future of transatlantic defense relations." It will address issues such as the EU-US relationship, European defense, the Mercosur agreement, and the role of Iberian companies "in the new global landscape." The initiative, which precedes the seventh edition of the La Toja Forum, to be held on the island of A Toxa in October, is promoted by the La Toja Foundation. This is the third edition of the forum in Lisbon and will bring together a group of leading voices from the political, institutional, and economic and social spheres to discuss relevant and current issues for the Iberian Peninsula and the world, "addressing new political cycles and global challenges in a context marked by technological transformations, the energy transition, and debates on global leadership," according to the organizers. Confirmed speakers include former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (2011-2018); former Foreign Minister and former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2019-2024) Josep Borrell; Minister of Defense Margarita Robles; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Luis Planas; and the Portuguese Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense Paulo Rangel and Nuno Melo. Also participating will be Carlos Moedas, President of the Lisbon City Council and former European Commissioner (2014-2019); Juan Fernández Trigo, Spanish Ambassador to Portugal and former Secretary of State for Ibero-America; Augusto Santos Silva, former President of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic (2022-2024) and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal (2015-2022); Antonio Garamendi, President of the CEOE (Spanish Economic Commission for Europe); Armindo Monteiro, President of the CIP (Spanish Institute of International Cooperation); Andrés Allamand, Ibero-American Secretary General; and Ana Santos Pinto, Portuguese Secretary of State for Defense (2018-2019). The meeting will be opened by Amancio López Seijas, President of the La Toja Foundation; Paulo Rangel; and Juan Fernández Trigo. The closing session will be led by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, and Carlos López Blanco, President of the La Toja Forum Organizing Committee. According to the organizers, the forum "positions itself as a space for dialogue, reflection, and the defense of liberal democracy." “At a time of growing trade tensions, and in the midst of a debate about the future of transatlantic defense relations, Europe is clear about its firm commitment to free trade, support for international cooperation, and a clear commitment to strengthening relations between Europe and Latin America, where Spain and Portugal have an important role to play,” they continue. The event's program will include roundtable discussions on topics such as "Opportunities and Challenges for Iberian Companies in the New Global Landscape," "Europe: A Decisive Moment," "The Mercosur Agreement and the Necessary Ibero-American Trade Cooperation," "Europe and the US: Together or Separately?" and "European Defense: Capabilities and Leadership."

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