"In terms of content, one of the results of this visit, precisely in the sense of deepening human, economic and cultural relations between France and Portugal, will be the signing of a friendship and cooperation agreement between France and Portugal," said an Elysee advisor in an audio conference with the media.

On his first day in Lisbon, Macron will pay tribute to the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões and will then meet with the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, with whom he will discuss issues that "concern Europe in terms of security and defense", namely the acceleration of competitiveness and investment.

In the Assembly of the Republic, there will not be a speech by the French head of state as previously planned, but there will be a solemn session and exchange of views with the president of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, and the various presidents of the Portuguese political groups.

As the second edition of the United Nations Ocean Conference took place in Lisbon in 2022 and the third edition will be held between June 9 and 13 in Nice, the transfer of powers between the two countries will take place, with a focus on the adoption of a joint declaration on cooperation in the oceans and the Atlantic area.

"It will be an opportunity to set out our views on cooperation in the oceans, on the ratification of the High Seas Treaty, on cooperation in the Atlantic area, and also on common priorities linked to the protection of the oceans, biodiversity, energy and renewable energies linked to the oceans," added the Elysee.

In addition, a dialogue will take place between Macron and the Mayor of Lisbon and former European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, at the Beato Innovation District, one of the largest innovation and entrepreneurship hubs in Europe, with the participation of Franco-Portuguese technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) players, such as Station F (a French startup hub), following the AI ​​Action Summit in Paris earlier this month.

On the second day, during the French head of state's trip to Porto to meet with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, around a dozen bilateral agreements are expected to be signed, including "a friendship agreement, a Franco-Portuguese cooperation agreement and a letter of intent in the field of armaments", the source said.

Regarding the arms cooperation letter in the context of the Ukraine conflict, it is part of the "strengthening of the European industrial base" and aims to "confirm an intention and an agreement already announced for the acquisition of up to 36 Caesar [artillery systems] by the Portuguese" and also to "formalize cooperation in other industrial sub-cooperations, namely in the area of ​​drones", according to the same source.

"A cultural, scientific and technical cooperation agreement, a police cooperation agreement, a film co-production agreement, in particular with the Centre National de la Cinématographie, and an action plan in favour of higher education, science and innovation will also be signed," added Macron's adviser.

Macron's agenda will also include a Franco-Portuguese business forum in Porto with the Portuguese President of the Republic and Prime Minister, focusing on economic and investment cooperation between France and Portugal, and ties between the two countries, as well as issues relating to "innovation, defense and preservation of sovereignty in Europe".

This is the first state visit by a French president to Portugal in 26 years, at the invitation of the Portuguese President. The last visit took place in 1999 with Jacques Chirac. However, Macron had already been invited to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of April 25, where he ended up addressing the Portuguese, with whom France shares a historic relationship.

"There are around two million people of Portuguese descent in France, there are almost 50,000 French people living in Portugal, and two million French tourists visited Portugal in 2024", said an advisor, highlighting the potential for growth.

In June 2022, Macron was in Portugal to participate in the United Nations (UN) Oceans Conference in Lisbon, while Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was in France for the last time in June last year, to attend the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.