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Soviet Union [USSR] Spain and Portugal
Soviet contacts with Spain and Portugal were almost nonexistent
in the post-World War II period until the 1970s, when changes in
leadership of both countries paved the way for the establishment of
diplomatic relations. Portugal established diplomatic relations
with the Soviet Union in June 1974, and Spain reestablished
diplomatic ties in February 1977, broken in 1939 after the
Nationalists defeated the Soviet-backed Republicans in the Spanish
Civil War. Both countries have relatively large, long-established
pro-Soviet communist parties, with the Portuguese Communist Party
during the 1980s enjoying more electoral support and seats in the
legislature. In March 1982, Spain joined NATO (Portugal was a
founding member), a move opposed by the Soviet Union and the
Communist Party of Spain. Soviet relations with Spain during the
1980s were businesslike, with King Juan Carlos visiting Moscow in
May 1984 and Prime Minister Felipe González visiting in May 1986.
Relations with Portugal in the early 1980s were relatively poor,
with Portugal criticizing the invasion of Afghanistan and other
Soviet policies. Relations improved during the late 1980s, when
President Mário Soares visited Moscow in November 1987 and signed
trade and other cooperation agreements; Shevardnadze paid a return
visit to Lisbon in March 1988.
Data as of May 1989
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