During a hearing at the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities, Paulo Rangel addressed Portugal's stance on the Middle East conflict and the use of Lajes Base in the Azores by the United States. Rangel emphasized that the process is being managed with transparency and that there is no reason to believe the agreed-upon conditions have been violated. He clarified that Portugal does not support the military intervention by the US and Israel in Iran, prioritizes diplomatic channels, and maintains constant contact with counterparts in the region. Regarding Lajes Base, he provided data on recent US military aircraft movements and reiterated that Portugal continues to negotiate with its ally, the United States, while upholding its sovereignty.