José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores, argued on Friday, April 3, that a review of the Bilateral Defense and Cooperation Agreement with the US is necessary to compensate the region as an 'act of justice' given the 'resurgence' of its geostrategic value. Bolieiro acknowledges that the current international context and the US administration's stance on security and defense may make it difficult for Portugal to renegotiate at this moment, but insists that once the opportunity arises, it is only fair to revisit the agreement. He emphasizes that the Azores have become increasingly relevant to the country, the EU, and NATO, and that the region should benefit from the agreement as stipulated by the Constitution. The Lajes Agreement was last revised in 1995, and the Azores have since seen a reduction in military presence and the loss of financial compensation, which the regional government now seeks to address.