Author: Carmen Amado Mendes.

The Portuguese-speaking countries, also known as Lusophone countries, are not a homogeneous cultural, political and economic block, sharing identical characteristics and views of the world. On the contrary, they form a very heterogeneous community in what concerns geography, landscape and behaviour, and even in terms of knowledge of the Portuguese language – the only common feature backing the concept of Lusophony. Portugal and Brazil are the most developed and diversified economies, while Lusophone Africa and East Timor are still at a different development stage. A few suggestions are given below on possible ways that India can follow in order to develop strategic relations with Portuguese-speaking countries, opening one more specific front in its foreign policy. The Indian government should adjust its bilateral relations with each of these countries according to their own characteristics, understanding what they expect from Delhi and identifying specific opportunities that they have to offer.