Integrated Researcher of OBSERVARE, Francisco Leandro has a PhD in Political Science & International Relations from Catholic University of Portugal, an Advanced Diploma in International Law – Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale & Institute of International Humanitarian Law (Milan, Italy), an Advanced Diploma in Military Science – Instituto de Altos Estudos Militares (War College – IAEM), an University Degree in Law from Autónoma University of Lisbon, an University Degree in Military and Social Sciences -from Portuguese Army Military Academy (Lisbon), and a NATO Legal Advisor & Public Relations Advisor Diploma from the NATO School, Oberammergau (Germany). In 2015, he was awarded the Pearl River Delta Academy of International Trade and Investment Law Diploma (PRAIA) Peking University/IEEM.
Between January 2013 and July 2018, he was Assistant Professor at University of Saint Joseph – President of Faculty of Creative Industries Pedagogical Council (2014-2016), Secretary of Scientific Council (2016-2017), and Visiting Professor at Institute of European Studies in Macau (2013-2018). From 2016 to 2018 he held the position of Institute of Social and Legal Studies program coordinator at the Faculty of Humanities at University of Saint Joseph – Macau, China. In 2017 he completed his postdoc research at the University of Macau on the Belt and Road Initiative. Between 2018 and 2023 he was the Associate Dean at the Institute for Research on Portuguese-Speaking Countries, City University Macau, China. He is currently an Associate Professor with habilitation at the Faculty of Social Sciences at University of Macau (China). His most recent books are: Steps of Greatness: The Geopolitics of OBOR (2018), University of Macau; The Challenges, Development and Promise of Timor-Leste (2019), City University of Macau; The Belt and Road Initiative: An Old Archetype of a New Development Model (2020), Palgrave Macmillan; Geopolitics of Iran (2021), Palgrave Macmillan; The Handbook of Special Economic Zones (2021), IGI Global; Disentangled Visions on Higher Education: Preparing the Generation Next (2023), Peter Lang Publishers; and The Palgrave Handbook of Globalization with Chinese Characteristics (2023), Palgrave Macmillan.
As a former Portuguese Army Officer (from 1989-2012), he was awarded the European Union Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, D. Afonso Henriques Medal, 2nd Class of Military Value Medal, and Portuguese Army Distinguished Services Medal, and also with 11 national and international commendations.
Francisco Leandro is a regular contributor to Newspaper Tribuna de Macau, Macau link, TDM (Macau TV) as commentator on international affairs, and an occasional contributor to China Daily HK Edition, Macau Business Magazine and the Magazine Chinese Social Sciences Today.
