The decision of António José Seguro, recently elected President of the Republic, to dedicate the first State Council to Security and Defense is not neutral. In fact, the choice of the theme for this inaugural meeting is never chosen. It works as a declaration of priorities.
In this case, it shows that Seguro made a pragmatic reading of the succession of severe fires, now followed by the destructive effects of storms Kirsten e Martawhich exposed the vulnerability of the territory and populations.
For years, in Portugal, Security and Defense were matters relegated to specialized circles, discussed among military personnel, diplomats and experts. They rarely mobilized broad public debate, except in moments of crisis.
But the international context changed very quickly. War has returned to European space, geopolitical tensions are multiplying, hybrid threats — from cyberspace to disinformation — have become part of everyday life in democracies.
In this context, treating Security and Defense as structural dimensions of sovereignty is not alarmism. A President who places these issues at the top of the agenda recognizes that the strategic autonomy of a small and open country, like Portugal, depends on its ability to anticipate risks, strengthen alliances and invest intelligently in its capabilities.
The interview given to Sovereignty podcastfrom Diário de Notícias, in August 2025, already a candidate for Belém, was entirely dedicated to these two areas.
Seguro defended a logic of prevention and structural preparation, refusing the idea of accepting catastrophes as inevitable. This perspective points to continued public policies in terms of spatial planning, forest management, institutional coordination and means of response. Security, in this framework, depends on both strategy and execution.
This is where the presidential role can play an important role. The President of the Republic is, constitutionally, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. This status is not limited to the classic military dimension, nor to foreign policy. In a country subject to recurring natural risks, military capabilities — logistics, engineering, transport, communications and organization on the ground — are often decisive in emergency situations.
The commitment of the Armed Forces to missions to support the population is not new, but it is not always fully valued in the public debate. A President who highlights this dimension can contribute to normalizing this cooperation and overcoming prejudices that tend to rigidly separate defense and civil protection. In climate crisis scenarios, protecting territory and saving lives is also a form of national defense.
In the field of Defense itself, Seguro has defended an approach of strategic rationality. His position was summarized in one sentence: “You cannot spend more without first spending better.”
The idea of converting expenditure into productive investment, with a technological and scientific base, links Defense, Economy and Innovation. At a time when several European countries are reinforcing military budgets, this perspective prioritizes sustainability and strategic return.
For a country with limited resources, investing in capabilities, dual technology and an industrial base is simultaneously Defense policy and Development policy. Expense is no longer seen as an isolated charge and becomes part of a competitiveness strategy.
Seguro has also described the presidential role as oriented towards lasting commitments. He argued that the head of state should “escape from day to day life and focus on promoting the necessary commitments and agreements, which reinforce the roots of our democratic institutions”. This definition points to a judiciary of influence, focused on areas that require continuity between governments.
Security is one of these areas. Civil Protection, Defense, institutional coordination and public trust depend on stable policies. The President does not execute, but can frame priorities, encourage planning and promote coordination between institutions.
By stating, in this same interview, that the role he wants for himself, as President, is to “bring hope where there is fear”, Seguro also establishes a demanding criterion for the mandate. In matters of Security, hope translates into effective prevention, organization of the State and concrete responses for citizens.
Placing Security at the top of the presidential agenda corresponds to a realistic diagnosis of the times in which we live. The challenge will be to maintain this centrality when media attention shifts to other emergencies. Strategic continuity is less visible than the immediate response, but it is what produces lasting effects.
In a context of uncertainty, Security has become a transversal axis of public policies. Assuming it as a presidential priority is recognizing this reality.
The true measure of success, however, will not be in the symbolism of the first State Council, but in the ability to transform the issue into consistent and scrutinized policy. Security and Defense are not just matters of State — they are, increasingly, matters of society. It is in this plan that the scope of this Presidency will be assessed.
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