Radmila Shekerinska, Deputy Secretary General of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), visited the Institute for Political Studies (IEP) at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, at its headquarters in Lisbon, on 8 January, where she gave a lecture that allowed IEP students, alumni and teachers to listen to and talk with the Alliance leader, as the meeting featured a lively question and answer session.
‘The Universidade Católica is a place of free thought and defence of European values,’ said President Isabel Capeloa Gil, welcoming Radmila Shekerinska.
Before handing over to the Deputy Secretary General, Mónica Dias, who is also the director of the IEP, emphasised that ‘NATO defends what we also proudly defend: democratic governments under the banner of freedom and personal responsibility, human dignity and the corresponding human rights, which no power should exceed, common defence and security’.
In her speech, Radmila Shekerinska began by emphasising that ‘Portugal is a very important ally for the Alliance’. ‘It is a founding member and a key ally, not only because of its pioneering spirit and highly competent navy, but also because of its strategic location and the way it is connected to the ocean that links the two continents of this Alliance, Europe and North America,’ she said.
Thanking the country for its commitment to the Atlantic Alliance, she emphasised Portugal's contribution to various NATO missions, maritime defence and support for Ukraine. He also warned of the two threats that are ‘the focus of NATO’: attacks by Russia and instability and terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa. ‘With growing challenges to our security, it is clear that allies must do more to preserve peace,’ he warned.
