Some of the Oldest Alliances in the World

An alliance is a pact signed by countries that promise to work together in the future. The Anglo-Portuguese Partnership is the world’s oldest known historical alliance, with the initial treaty going back to the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty. An alliance’s primary goal is to pool military resources against prospective adversaries. Individually and collectively, the combined strength can be used for various purposes. On June 16, 1373, the monarchs of England and Portugal signed the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty – the oldest treaty in the world. The countries strengthened the alliance by ratifying it at the Treaty of Windsor in 1386. 

The Oldest Treaty In The World

The Anglo-Portuguese alliance resulted in a covenant between the two maritime nations of “perpetual friendships, collaborations, and alliances.”  For example, Portugal (and later the United Kingdom) supported England (and later the United Kingdom) in times of need during the First World War. England and Portugal are still allies, and the Anglo-Portuguese Partnership is a major intergovernmental military alliance. It has grown to include North American and European countries and spends more than 70% of all military spending worldwide. It is the oldest treaty in the world and still-in-force.

Many times throughout history, the countries have reaffirmed it, most notably in 1386 (as well as in 1643, 1654, 1660, 1661, 1703, and 1899). Arbitration Treaties between the United Kingdom and Portugal in 1904 and 1914 accepted this fact. Between 1580 and 1640, the rulers of Spain and Portugal formed a dynastic union, which temporarily nullified the treaty.

The world’s oldest treaty resumed once Portugal regained independence, and it reached new heights during Napoleon’s reign. 

The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance 

From 1580 to 1640, during the Iberian Union, the Anglo-Portuguese Partnership was annulled because of a dynastic union between the monarchs of Spain and Portugal. But with the restoration of Portugal’s independence, the alliance reemerged, and it rose to new heights during Napoleonic Wars when the British deployed their best general, the Duke of Wellington. In the Peninsular War, Wellington’s goal was to weaken Napoleon’s army. 

The oldest treaty in the world was again revived during World War II. The British wanted to avoid taking the conflict to the Iberian Peninsula; thus, the Portuguese remained neutral. In 1943, Winston Churchill’s National Government and Portugal revived the entire system following three months of discussions. An airfield and nautical facilities were supplied to Britain in the Azores to aid in the war against U-boats. 

Support from Portugal came to England (now the United Kingdom) when it needed it most and vice versa. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance has grown into a broad intergovernmental military alliance called NATO that includes North American and European countries spending more than $1 billion annually on military investment. It is the world’s oldest and most active military collaboration. 

Conclusion

The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance has over the course of their separate military histories, influenced each other, with British participation in the Peninsular War as one example. The British supported the Wars against Napoleon and they built an Anglo-American military base in Portugal. Portugal’s staunch allegiance to the British Empire during World War One (and eventually the United Kingdom) is another example of the alliance’s strength. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance eventually set the base for NATO, and England and Portugal are still allies.