The President arrived in Lisbon, Portugal today and joined many of our Eurpoean allies, prepared to spend the coming days focused on several issues of tremendous mutual importance, including the war in Afghanistan -- get all the background you need from the transcript of the press briefing held earlier this week. President Obama and Portuguese President Cavaco Silva took part in an official arrival ceremony and addressed the press after a bilateral meeting, where President Obama expressed his appreciation:
Thank you for your warm welcome. Thank you to the people of Lisbon and Portugal for welcoming us to this beautiful, ancient city.
It is very fitting that we are gathering here in Lisbon. It was from here that the great explorers set out to discover new worlds. It was here, a gateway of Europe, through which generations of immigrants and travelers have passed and bound our countries together. It was here that Europeans came together to sign the landmark treaty that strengthened their union.
Now we’ve come to Lisbon again to revitalize the NATO alliance for the 21st century and to strengthen the partnership between the United States and the European Union.