The Paço dos Duques de Bragança, in Guimarães, received a Solemn Session of the Academy of Diplomacy, marking a significant event for the city and the international diplomatic community. The ceremony was attended by Ricardo Araújo, President of Guimarães City Council, who delivered the closing speech. This was the first time the Academy held a ceremony outside its usual format in Madrid.
Jorge Antas de Barros, Head of the Academy of Diplomacy's Delegation in Portugal, highlighted during his speech the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and leadership in the current international context. He emphasized that "the world has already changed" and that the strategic autonomy of States in the 21st century will translate into the capacity to maintain deep openness to a diversified world, rejecting isolation and exclusive dependence on a particular geographic space.
During the ceremony, 12 ambassadors received the Academy's Diploma and Insignia, representing countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Australia, Hungary, Ukraine, Philippines, Uruguay, Mexico, El Salvador, Israel, Argentina and Belgium. Among the civil personalities invested were Diogo Madeira from Huawei Portugal, Henrique Monteiro from Grupo Impresa, Fernando Tavares Pereira from Grupo TAVFER, and Paulo Coelho Lima, CEO of Grupo Lameirinho and Honorary Consul of Mexico. Taavi Rõivas, former Prime Minister of Estonia, was invested as Honorary Member.
Santiago Velo de Antelo, Executive President of the Academy, recalled that the institution was founded in Spain over three decades ago and that its permanent presence in Portugal dates back to 2023, with the opening of its headquarters in Cascais. The Academy has diplomats from almost a hundred countries and has already awarded the Ambassador Pedro Dantelo Prize to personalities such as King Simão II of Bulgaria and Pope Benedict XVI. Santiago Urbina, from Cigna Healthcare, presented the "Global Diplomatic Health Study," a study developed over several years in more than 13 countries to understand the conditions faced by diplomats and their families.
