[1][2] This bilateral partnership is rooted in historical, linguistic, and cultural connections dating back to the 15th century when Portuguese explorers first discovered the Cape Verde islands.

The strong cultural and social ties between the two countries are reinforced by the significant Cape Verdean diaspora residing in Portugal.

A significant milestone in this partnership was the signing of the 2022-2026 Strategic Cooperation Programme during the VI Portugal-Cape Verde Summit held in Praia.

[8] In the end of 2022, Portugal granted an additional €583,462 in humanitarian aid to help Cape Verde address the cumulative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global food crisis, and prolonged drought conditions.

This assistance included €560,000 in direct budget support to strengthen food security and 6.7 tonnes of powdered milk valued at over €23,000, distributed by the Portuguese Navy.

[9][10] In June 2023, Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa agreed to convert €140 million of Cape Verde's debt into investments for the archipelago's environmental and climate fund.

This "debt-for-nature" swap was designed to bolster Cape Verde's resilience against climate change and support local efforts to invest in renewable energy production.

A significant focus of this type of Portuguese aid has been the provision of credit lines and concessional loans for infrastructure development, as well as investments in social housing and renewable energy projects.

[21] In recent years, a notable example of ongoing defense collaboration has been the regular deployment of Portuguese P-3C Orion aircraft to Cape Verde for maritime surveillance missions.

[22] These operations are aimed at monitoring the Atlantic Ocean, with a particular focus on Cape Verde's Exclusive Economic Zone, to enhance maritime security and detect illegal activities.