In an emotional message, Ambassador Levine expressed her gratitude to President Joe Biden for the opportunity to serve his country.

“Serving as an Ambassador has been one of the greatest honors of my life and an extraordinary adventure. It was a privilege to represent the United States in Portugal - a country rich in history, culture and lasting friendship. Together, we work to strengthen the deep and lasting economic and cultural ties between our two nations.”

Ambassador Levine highlighted several key accomplishments during her tenure, including a groundbreaking bilateral trade and investment mission in the renewable energy and critical minerals sectors, which leveraged U.S.-Portugal economic cooperation and diversified global supply chains. She also highlighted her work in the area of ​​cultural diplomacy, using culinary arts, sports, music and visual arts to deepen connections, promote equity and inclusion, and foster shared values.

Under her leadership, U.S. investment in Portugal quadrupled to €2.1 billion in 2023, making the United States Portugal's largest foreign investor and top trading partner outside the European Union. American investments significantly strengthened Portugal's critical infrastructure, as well as data centers and submarine cables. The United States and Portugal have signed scientific agreements on cancer treatment and research collaboration, as well as preventing and fighting forest fires.

Tourism from the United States has also increased, with more than 2 million Americans visiting Portugal in 2023, contributing €2.5 billion to the local economy – a 30% increase over the previous year. Academic exchanges have also flourished, with American student enrollment in Portuguese higher education institutions reaching a record 1,605 in the 2022-2023 academic year, an increase of 58.3%.

Under Ambassador Levine's leadership, investor visas are now available to Portuguese entrepreneurs, allowing them to create business and investment opportunities in the United States.

In the last three years, the bilateral relationship at the defense level has also prospered. In her four visits to the Azores islands, Ambassador Levine worked closely with Portuguese leaders to create new opportunities for military and security cooperation with the United States. During her tenure, Portugal also increased defense spending and announced plans to accelerate its commitment to NATO's Wales Agreement.

The United States continued to expand its long-lasting presence in the Azores. The 50th meeting of the Permanent Bilateral Commission took place on Terceira Island. The Consulate in Ponta Delgada expanded its American staff to provide better service to the growing number of American tourists visiting the archipelago, and the U.S. Mission in Portugal celebrated the U.S. Department of Defense's largest investment in the Ponta Delgada Air Base. Ambassador Levine also led an innovative sports diplomacy delegation with FIFA World Champion Brandi Chastain, working with local soccer legend Pauleta to promote gender equity in soccer in the Azores.

Ambassador Levine's passion for arts and culture was an important part of her work, creating cultural initiatives that brought American and Portuguese artists and cultural leaders together and promoted visibility of Portuguese arts and culture.

The 2023 “Art in Embassies” celebration, opened by a visit from First Lady Jill Biden, included an Ambassador exhibit at Casa Carlucci – “Celebrating Diversity – Democracy and Representation in the Arts.” The event included three days of public panels and discussions throughout Lisbon with renowned Portuguese and American artists.

Ambassador Levine led a variety of intercultural programs bringing together Portuguese and American artists, including Diplomacia Hip Hop with Sam the Kid, Diplomacia Culinária with American Chef Art Smith, and L'USAfonia, a free public concert where Portuguese-African musicians performed traditional music Americana in celebration of Black American History Month.

Challenges

These programs aimed to promote entrepreneurship, feed the homeless, spread healthy eating and cooking to young people, and helped address common challenges facing our two countries on both sides of the Atlantic.

To mark the important role of the United States in supporting Portuguese democracy, and the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution on April 25, Ambassador Levine created an exhibition museum in the Ambassador's residence, where important discussions between the then Ambassador Frank Carlucci and Mário Soares helped prepare the United States' support for Portuguese democracy.

Reflecting on her time in Lisbon, Ambassador Levine said, “During my term, I traveled to all parts of this beautiful country, bringing together people from government, the business sector, and civil society. I have also had the pleasure of working with several Portuguese leaders - the depth and scale of the successes we have achieved together speak for themselves. This shared canvas we created will last well beyond my time in Portugal. The work we did together laid a lasting foundation for even greater partnerships in the future.”

Ambassador Levine will receive the Grand Cross of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in January for her work in creating new business opportunities in Portugal.

Before she was ambassador, Levine was a recognized advocate for cultural diplomacy and was a Commissioner of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery and a Curator of the Meridian International Center, where she chaired the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy.