The new Portuguese ambassador in Washington D.C., Francisco Duarte Lopes, took to Facebook to promise he will work “to the best of [his] abilities” to further develop an “already very mature and especially close bilateral relationship”. The statement was made on the Facebook page of the Embassy of Portugal in Washington.

The ambassador previously worked as Director-General for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before taking on a role as representative for Portugal at the United Nations in 2017.

“It is with great honour that I undertake the role of Ambassador of Portugal to the United States of America,” said the statesman.

He also committed to serve “U.S. citizens, companies, and institutions, so that Portugal and the many opportunities for business, tourism, or cultural and academic exchanges in Portugal … are increasingly known in the United States”.