Posted on 02 August 2025.
The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, began an official visit to the Autonomous Region of the Azores on Thursday, accompanied by the President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro. The itinerary includes visits to six of the nine islands in the archipelago: São Miguel, Terceira, Pico, Faial, Graciosa, and São Jorge.
The visit began at Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island, where the Head of State visited the BA4 Museum Centre, the “20 Years of the EH-101” exhibition and Squadron 752, also signing the military unit’s guest book.
This was followed by a trip to the island of Pico, where Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visited the Azores Wine Company, toured the Vineyard Culture Landscape – classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 – and ended the day with a visit to the Pico Museum, during which he met with producers and economic agents from the local wine sector.
For José Manuel Bolieiro, this visit takes on a strategic dimension, not only due to its institutional projection but also due to its symbolism in the context of the Azores’ positioning.
“The presence of the President of the Republic highlights the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of the Region at a time when the Atlantic is becoming increasingly relevant,” stated the head of the Azorean Government.
The President of the Azorean Government also added that this visit “is also an opportunity to highlight the economic value and identity of the islands, promoting the products, talent and resilience of the Azoreans in the face of global challenges.”
The presidential visit will take place over several days and will involve a wide-ranging program that includes institutional meetings, cultural visits and meetings with regional entities.
Also accompanying the visit are the President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Luís Garcia, the Representative of the Republic for the Region, Ambassador Pedro Catarino, and the former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Admiral António da Silva Ribeiro.
Source: Press Release @ azores.gov.pt
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government’s executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census, over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.