Portuguese Empire

Decline and Fall (1945-1999)

In the wake of World War II, other European nations began abandoning their colonies either voluntarily or involuntarily. Portugal refused to enter this process voluntarily, and was the last nation to retain its major colonies. In 1961, Goa and the rest of Portuguese India were occupied and annexed by India. In Portuguese Africa a decade-long war broke out with various resistance groups, in great part a consequence of the "proxy war" between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Related Topics:
World War II - 1961 - Goa - Portuguese India - Proxy war - United States - Soviet Union - Cold War

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In fact, it was the Cold War that destroyed the Portuguese empire, as the USA and USSR tried to increase their spheres of influence. The cost of the unsuccessful war against the various guerilla movements overseas eventually led to collapse of the Salazar regime in 1974 (the "Carnation Revolution"). One of the first acts of the democratic government which then came into power was to end the wars and negotiate Portuguese withdrawal from its African colonies. In both Mozambique and Angola a civil war promptly broke out, with incoming communist governments formed by the former rebels (and backed by the Soviet Union, Cuba, and other communist countries) fighting against insurgent groups supported by nations like Zaire, South Africa, and the United States.

Related Topics:
Spheres of influence - Salazar - 1974 - Carnation Revolution - Mozambique - Angola - Communist - Soviet Union - Cuba - Zaire - South Africa - United States

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East Timor also became independent at this time, but was promptly invaded by neighbouring Indonesia, which occupied it until 1999.

Related Topics:
East Timor - Indonesia - 1999

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The Portuguese overseas empire finally came to an end when Portugal handed Macau over to China in 1999 under the terms of a negotiated agreement similar to the one under which the United Kingdom handed over Hong Kong.

Related Topics:
Macau - China - United Kingdom - Hong Kong

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The seven former colonies of Portugal that are now independent nations, together with Portugal, are members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).

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