Portugal in China’s Digital and Space Silk Roads

Abstract

This article examines Portugal’s engagement with China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) and Space Silk Road (SSR). It operates on the premise that both, the DSR and the SSR, despite their rhetoric of cooperation, function within the logic of Digital Realpolitik─serving Beijing’s national interest and raising risks of technological dependency and control. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Small State Theory, the study explores how Portugal navigates its involvement with the DSR and SSR while balancing its Euro-Atlantic commitments within a dynamic landscape shaped by China’s rise. Through a qualitative methodology, the article reveals that, although Portugal has not formally joined the DSR or SSR, Chinese digital and space investments have increasingly infiltrated the national landscape. Several factors have prompted Portugal to adopt a cautious, balanced approach. The conclusions underscore the dual nature of this involvement, highlighting the broader implications for small States engaged in the global digital competition.