Message on the Occasion of Portugal’s National Day

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Message on the Occasion of Portugal's National Day  06/10/2020 12:01 AM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State On behalf of the U.S. government and the American people, I extend my congratulations to the people of Portugal and  Portuguese communities everywhere, as you celebrate the Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities.  Even as this year's celebrations have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans stand in solidarity with Portugal. As long-standing friends, partners, and Transatlantic Allies, the United States and Portugal share a commitment to democracy and the rule of law, respect for human dignity, and defense of free and fair trade.  I was honored to visit Portugal last year, where I expressed our appreciation for Portugal's unwavering support for the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people and your  contributions to regional security missions around the world, including in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, and the Western Balkans.  The Azores occupy a special place in our relationship, both  in the heritage of many Portuguese-Americans and in the vital defense cooperation that takes place every day at Lajes Field. As we face these challenging times together, we admire your Government's careful handling of the pandemic, and the commitment to individual and communal responsibility shown by the Portuguese people.  We are proud to count the Portuguese among our Transatlantic Allies, facing global challenges side by side.  I am confident that our nations' common security, prosperity, and friendship will only continue to grow.         Stay connected with the State Department: External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.    Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This email was sent to stevenmagallanes520.nims@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520