The Socialist Party (PS) has questioned the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the use of Lajes Air Base by US MQ-9 Reaper drones, specifically asking if Portugal is aware of the missions involved. The inquiry, addressed to Paulo Rangel, follows reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs authorized the use of the base in the Azores for these unmanned military aircraft. The PS expressed concerns about the implications of hosting such weapon systems during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, demanding transparency on whether these operations comply with international law. Rangel defended the authorization, stating that the use of the base is conditional upon adherence to international law, specifically requiring that actions be necessary, proportional, and limited to military targets.