State visit of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal to Estonia

On the invitation of President Alar Karis, the Portuguese head of state Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will be visiting Estonia from 8-10 October. His visit is in recognition of the shared values and good bilateral relations between Estonia and Portugal and will focus on regional security and cooperation in the fields of science, defence and education.

Discussions will cover security issues and defence cooperation as allies on NATO's eastern flank, support for partners in the fight against terrorism and growing Russian influence in Africa, multilateral support for Ukraine, the continued need to isolate Russia, EU enlargement and the future of the union and closer cooperation in higher education and research between Estonia and Portugal.

President de Sousa will be accompanied on his visit by Secretary of State for European Union Affairs Inês Domingos and a business delegation, with the aim of fostering relations between Portuguese and Estonian companies.

The Portuguese head of state will be meeting with President Alar Karis, President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar and Prime Minister Kristen Michal. The two heads of state will also welcome those attending a Portuguese-Estonian Business Forum at the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

President de Sousa will also be meeting with Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski at Tallinn's Town Hall, visiting the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence and laying a wreath at the foot of the monument to the War of Independence on Freedom Square.President Alar Karis and Sirje Karis will be hosting a state dinner in honour of President de Sousa at the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa.

On Wednesday 9 October, Presidents Karis and de Sousa will be in Tartu, where the Portuguese head of state will meet with Mayor Urmas Klaas. Together the presidents will visit the University of Tartu, where President de Sousa will be giving a public lecture on democracy and the geostrategic situation in Europe and the world. Thereafter, the delegation will visit the University of Tartu Museum, which is currently hosting a poster exhibition dedicated to the Carnation Revolution in Portugal 50 years ago. The visit to Tartu will end with a tour of the Estonian National Museum.

On Thursday, President de Sousa will be visiting Tallinn University, where he and President Karis will be taking part in a round table on Portuguese language studies, teacher training and cooperation with Lusófona University in Lisbon in the areas of film and digital technologies.

The Portuguese head of state will be leaving Estonia at midday on Thursday 10 October.