US diplomats highlight Portugal's role within the NATO alliance and the strategic importance of the Lajes base, while urging the country to acquire F-35 aircraft.
US ambassadors praise Portugal in NATO and at Lajes, and call for the purchase of F-35 fighter jets
Thursday, 30 April 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Organização do Tratado do Atlântico Norte or OTAN) is a 32-member alliance facing pressure to intervene in the Strait of Hormuz to secure maritime routes. Disagreement among members regarding this military involvement has led to warnings about the organization's future stability. Portugal has been a member since NATO's founding in 1949 and hosts a major Joint Force Command in Oeiras.
