Thread by @Rob_Kimbell

Almost two-thirds of all of the cork exported in the world is exported by the United Kingdpm's oldest ally, Portugal (60.8% in 2019, according to WTEx). The Portuguese exported $1.2 billion worth of cork to customers abroad in 2019.

Britain's trading relationship with Portugal was boosted by the Napoleonic Wars when Brits could no longer get hold of French wines. At that time we became a huge market for the Portuguese and also started to take a keen interest in helping them develop their port industry.

England's diplomatic relationship with Portugal began to blossom in 1373. We signed the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty, which established 'perpetual friendships, unions [and] alliances'. Our alliance was confirmed at the Treaty of Windsor in 1386. We've been firm friends ever since.

When in 1960 the UK, Sweden, Denmark and others formed EFTA as a serious competitor trade bloc to the EEC, our ally Portugal was alongside us right from the start. After we and the Danes joined the EEC in 1973, Portugal applied in 1977 to join us and was admitted in 1986.

Our country's friendship with Portugal predates the establishment of the EU by almost six centuries.

It is my hope that now the United Kingdom has left the European Union, our ally Portugal will join us once again. It would be beyond tragedy if the Portuguese were to witness the abolition of their ancient independent country and its incorporation into a federal EU superstate.

Huge potential for Portugal in exiting the EU:

Lisbon could set its own interest rates to reflect the specific needs of the Portuguese economy.

Portugal would reinstate the escudo so once again the Portuguese currency could float on the Foreign Exchange Markets.

Huge potential for Portugal in exiting the EU:

Portugal could negotiate a bilateral comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with World #6 economy the United Kingdom.

Portugal could negotiate a bilateral comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with World #1 economy the United States.

Huge potential for Portugal in exiting the EU:

Portugal could seal a multilateral comprehensive FTA with World #9 economy (Lusophone) Brazil via its trade bloc Mercosur.

Portugal could sign a bilateral comprehensive FTA with World #62 (Lusophone) Angola, a major oil producer.

Lusophone: Portuguese-speaking. Derives from the Roman expression which interestingly referred to that (now Portuguese) part of Europe as Lusitania.

Lusophone countries worldwide would benefit from bilateral FTAs with Portugal.

Cabo Verde, a key holiday destination
Guinea-Bissau, an exporter of fish and nuts
São Tomé & Príncipe, a cocoa and coffee exporter
Timor-Leste, an oil and coffee exporter

Then there are the strong Portuguese connections with Goa, Daman and Diu in India, with Macau S.A.R. in China and with the Malaysian state of Malacca. Portugal's influence is so widely spread and its connections reach out far beyond the confines of the protectionist EU.

Portuguese is the World #6 language, according to SIL International's 2019 edition of Ethnologue.

If you really reckon that Portugal cannot stand on its own two feet globally once freed from the EU, you are very sorely mistaken. Viva Portugal.