Anglo-Portuguese Alliance

The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance (or Aliança Luso-Inglesa, "Luso-English Alliance") is the oldest^[1] alliance that is still in force by political bilateral agreement.^[2] It was established by the Treaty of Windsor in 1386, between the Kingdom of England (since succeeded by the United Kingdom) and the Kingdom of Portugal (now the Portuguese Republic), though the countries were previously allied via the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373.

Since the signing of the Treaty of Windsor, the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of England, and later the modern Portuguese Republic and United Kingdom, have never waged war against each other, nor have they participated in wars on opposite sides as independent states (with one brief exception as described below). While Portugal was subsumed under the Iberian Union, rebellious Portuguese factions and government in exile sought refuge and help in England. England spearheaded the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) on the side of the deposed Portuguese royal house.

The alliance has served both countries throughout their respective military histories, influencing the participation of the United Kingdom in the Peninsular War, the UK's major land contribution to the Napoleonic Wars and the establishment of an Anglo-American base in Portugal. Portugal aided England (and later the UK) in times of need, for example, in the First World War. Today, Portugal and the United Kingdom are both part of NATO.

The (1701–1714), when Portugal together with the Duchy of Savoy initially sided with France, but after the Battle of Blenheim reunited with its ally.

War of the Spanish Succession

The (1756–1763), when Spain invaded Portugal in 1762; Britain intervened as Portugal's ally. Although faced with vastly superior numbers, the Portuguese and British forces together with Portuguese militia and peasants defeated the Spanish and French forces, which suffered huge losses during their three invasion attempts.

Seven Years' War

The (1803–1815), when Portugal, isolated in a Europe wholly dominated by Napoleon, continued to trade with the United Kingdom despite French restrictions and was finally invaded, but with British help finally regained total sovereignty and independence. The Portuguese royal family at the time (including Prince John, at the time acting as regent for his mother, the aged and mentally impaired Queen Maria I) took refuge in its then vice-royalty of Brazil, under escort by the British fleet. The Portuguese also helped the failed British invasions of the River Plate.

Napoleonic Wars

The (1828–1834), when the United Kingdom gave important support to the Liberal faction.

Portuguese Civil War

The , where under pressure by Cecil Rhodes, the British government gave an ultimatum to the Portuguese government to withdraw from the region of modern-day Botswana and refrain from furthering their colony of Portuguese East Africa. This was done in response to an expedition by Serpa Pinto into the region.^[4] The 1890 ultimatum was said to be one of the main causes for the Republican Revolution, which ended the monarchy in Portugal 20 years later.^[4]

1890 British Ultimatum

The alliance was reconfirmed after the breakup of the Iberian Union, primarily due to both countries' respective rivalries with Spain, the Netherlands, and France, both in Europe and overseas. During this time, important episodes in the alliance were:

After incursions in Portuguese East Africa (today Mozambique), Portuguese troops fought on the Western Front alongside Allied soldiers during the First World War.^[5]

German

21st century[edit]

On 13 June 2022, the Prime Minister of Portugal and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom signed a new agreement between the two nations in London, known as the UK-Portugal Joint Declaration on Bilateral Cooperation, thereby reinforcing the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance and confirming its status as the longest-running alliance still in force.^[15] The Joint Declaration was also signed to celebrate the 650th anniversary of the Treaty of Tagilde.^[16]

The 650th anniversary of the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 was officially commemorated by both nations on 16 June 2023. The British government stated at this time that they intend to enter into "a new bilateral Defence Agreement, due to be signed later in the year, set to take our defence cooperation to the next level."^[17]

Both countries continue to be members of the wider military alliance, NATO.

Portugal–United Kingdom relations

Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1878

Dutch–Portuguese War

Anglo-Dutch Wars

Foreign and Commonwealth Office website

Country profile of Portugal

(1946). Ambassador on Special Mission. UK: Collins; First Edition. pp. 124 and 125.

Hoare, Samuel

Kay, Hugh (1970). Salazar and Modern Portugal. NY, USA: Hawthorn Books.

Leite, Joaquim da Costa (1998). . American University International Law Review. 14 (1). Washington College of Law: 185–199. Retrieved 19 March 2014.

"Neutrality by Agreement: Portugal and the British Alliance in World War II"

Meneses, Filipe (2009). . Enigma Books; 1 edition. p. 544. ISBN 978-1929631902.

Salazar: A Political Biography

(1994). The Oldest Ally: Britain and the Portuguese Connection, 1936–1941. Boydell & Brewer Ltd. p. 228. ISBN 9780861932276.

Stone, Glyn

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.