The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, H.E. Adriana Mira, attended today the Forum “El Salvador, a Wonderful Country”, organised by the Embassy of El Salvador in Portugal in partnership with IPDAL – the Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean. The event, held at the Hyatt Regency Lisbon, brought together representatives from the public and business sectors and aimed to promote El Salvador’s diverse tourism offerings — from its beaches and volcanoes to its culture and the hospitality of its people. In the opening remarks, Ambassador Rhina Bardi and IPDAL’s Secretary-General, Gastón Ocampo, highlighted…
Author: Gaston Ocampo
IPDAL organised today its Political Rentrée at the Grémio Literário, marking the resumption of the Institute’s institutional activities and providing a space for reflection and dialogue on the perspectives for the new political year in Portugal. The meeting brought together members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Portugal, creating a privileged environment for the exchange of views among ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from different regions of the world. Throughout the session, key issues of current international political and geopolitical affairs were discussed, in a global context marked by multiple challenges and uncertainties. The Political Rentrée was attended by the former…
We recently had the privilege of meeting with Luís Campos Ferreira, Secretary-General of the Union of Portuguese-Speaking Capital Cities (UCCLA), and Ambassador Paula Leal da Silva, Deputy Secretary-General of UCCLA. During the meeting, we analyzed the potential of a partnership between IPDAL and UCCLA to deepen the impact of Africa XXI and the Latin America – Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries event. We discussed concrete opportunities to deepen the impact of joint projects within the Lusophone world: sharing know-how, institutional coordination, synergies in education, culture, and international cooperation. It became clear that there is fertile ground for strengthened collaboration. We concluded…
Our institute held a meeting with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (SENEC), Dr. Ana Isabel Xavier, a meeting that reinforced our joint commitment to dialogue and international cooperation. During the meeting, IPDAL presented its mission and lines of action, as well as the agenda of activities for the 2025/26 period. The initiatives in which SENEC will participate were also highlighted, namely the Portugal-Latin America and the Caribbean (PT-LAC) Dialogue Roundtable and the ALC-CPLP Meeting, two key moments for debate and deepening multilateral relations. In the same context, IPDAL also presented the Policy Paper resulting from the…
On 11 September 2025, IPDAL was invited to participate in the Portuguese Democracy Resilience Workshop, held at the Hotel Lumen in Lisbon, as part of the European Liberal Forum’s project ‘Supporting Diplomatic Communities in Understanding Illiberal Tendencies’. The meeting brought together members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Portugal, academics and policy makers to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the resilience of Portuguese democracy. During the workshop, IPDAL Board Member Cátia Moreira de Carvalho shared her insights on the risks of polarisation and radicalisation in Portuguese society, while IPDAL Secretary-General Gastón Ocampo emphasised the importance of triangular cooperation in…
On the 18th and 19th of July, the fourth edition of the Meeting on Foreign Policy and Strategic Thinking (IV EPEPE) took place at the Casa de Santa Maria in Cascais. This annual event is organised by the Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL) and hosted by Cascais City Council in this magnificent venue. The discussions follow a roundtable format, held behind closed doors under the Chatham House Rule. The main objective is the preparation, following the event, of a Policy Paper to be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlining the reflections and…
The Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL) held another edition of the Latin American Sunset Party on 15 July 2025 at Restaurant Eleven in Lisbon. This event has become a tradition on the summer diplomatic and business calendar, bringing together high-level representatives from the diplomatic corps, government, academia, the media, and the business sector. This year, the guest country was the Dominican Republic, which contributed exceptionally to the success of the event with a showcase of traditional drinks, gastronomy, and cultural performances that delighted all those present. IPDAL extends its deepest gratitude to the Embassy…
IPDAL warmly congratulates Francisco Nobre, member of its Advisory Council, on his recent election as President of YATA International, which took place on 25 June during the General Assembly held on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague. This achievement strengthens Portugal’s role in young Atlantic leadership and is a source of great pride for our Advisory Council, of which Francisco is an active member. As the candidate from YATA Portugal, Francisco Nobre was chosen by his peers from various national chapters of YATA to lead the new International Executive Board, composed of Benedicte Røvik, Leonhard Simon, Kerem…
The Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL) deeply regrets the passing of His Excellency Ambassador José Antonio García Belaunde. A distinguished figure in Latin American diplomacy, Ambassador García Belaunde played a remarkable role in strengthening regional integration and promoting Latin America on the global stage, both as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru (2006–2011) and later as the Representative of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean in Europe, and as President of the EU-LAC Foundation. During these mandates, IPDAL had the honour of working closely with Ambassador García Belaunde, whose unwavering…
The IPDAL – Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean – had the honour of welcoming Ilan Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), for an institutional visit that reaffirms the Institute’s role as a strategic bridge between Portugal and Latin America. The agenda included a session at the Portuguese Parliament, enabling direct dialogue between the IDB President and members of the Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities Committee. Discussions focused on Atlantic cooperation, development financing instruments, and future opportunities between Portugal and the IDB. The visit also featured a High-Level Luncheon hosted by IPDAL at the…
On 27 June 2025, the Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL) had the honour of hosting and presenting the IPDAL–Vista Alegre Award to His Excellency, the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Ivo Scapolo, in a ceremony held at the Grémio Literário. The initiative aimed to recognise the Nuncio for his distinguished service in Portugal and, in particular, for the support and friendship he consistently showed throughout his mission, closely accompanying IPDAL’s initiatives. His unwavering support for the Mafra Dialogues — a project for strategic reflection and intercontinental dialogue — deserves special mention. Throughout this period, a shared…
On 24 June 2025, the Atlantic Centre and the Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL) hosted a high-level visit of Ambassadors from Latin America and the Caribbean to the headquarters of the Atlantic Centre at the Ministry of National Defence. The aim of this initiative was to present the work carried out by this centre of excellence in matters of Atlantic security and cooperation, as well as to foster a moment of strategic dialogue with diplomatic representatives from the region. As part of this visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between IPDAL and the…