(L-R) Jorge Dos Santos, Minister of the Sea; Ambassador Edna Marta; Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister; José Luis Livramento, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation & Regional Integration; Ambassador Jean Marie Frentz; Credit: MAE Luxembourg

​From Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 February 2026, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Xavier Bettel, visited Cape Verde - specifically the island of São Vicente - for a working visit.

Minister Bettel was received by his counterpart, Cape Verde's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration, José Livramento. He also met the Minister of the Sea, Jorge Santos, and the Mayor of São Vicente, Augusto Neves.

According to Luxembourg's Foreign Ministry, the two countries' "unique partnership", built over time on shared values - democracy, respect for human rights, multilateralism and the rule of law - was at the heart of discussions. Minister Bettel emphasised that trust is central to relations between Luxembourg and Cape Verde, describing it as a friendship based on the openness of both countries toward one another.

The officials also discussed the role of the Cape Verdean diaspora in Luxembourg, highlighting the importance of building bridges that extend beyond political and diplomatic relations.

During the visit, Minister Bettel and Minister Livramento signed the sixth Indicative Cooperation Programme (ICP), entitled "Partnership, Development and Resilience", covering the period 2026-2030. The programme is based on Luxembourg's whole-of-government approach, integrating contributions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs), the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity and the Ministry of the Economy, and aligns with the priorities of the Cape Verdean government.

The five priority sectors are:

  • education, employment and employability;
  • water and sanitation;
  • health;
  • climate action;
  • energy transition.

Following the signing of the ICP, Minister Bettel stated: "Luxembourg and Cape Verde are trusted partners, with a relationship spanning more than 40 years. The projects we are implementing together are investments in the future of both Cape Verde and Luxembourg. I am proud that, with the signing of ICP VI, our partnership is entering a new phase, based on trust, solidarity, progress and friendship between Luxembourg and Cape Verde."

Minister Bettel also conducted a series of visits on São Vicente. He visited local entrepreneurs, the Institute of the Sea (Instituto do Mar - IMar), the Coast Guard and the SOS Children's Village. He also attended a presentation on rehabilitation efforts following Tropical Storm Erin, during which he commended the courage of the Cape Verdean people and praised Luxembourg's solidarity in providing emergency aid and supporting reconstruction efforts.