Praia da Vitória

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro affirmed that the United States military's use of Lajes Air Base (Base das Lajes) in the Azores complied fully with Portuguese law, following an inquiry opened by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público). Montenegro stated he holds an unwavering conviction regarding the legality of the operations and warned that judicial authorities should not make political judgments. The remarks follow domestic scrutiny over foreign military flights utilizing Portuguese territory.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel in Lisbon during the final stop of a European diplomatic tour. Rubio praised bilateral cooperation, including the use of Lajes Field (Base Aérea das Lajes) in the Azores, and discussed Portugal's planned purchase of F-35 fighter jets. The visit drew criticism from the Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP), which staged street protests condemning government subservience to Washington.

The Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an inquiry into the legality of the United States' use of the Lajes Base in the Azores. The investigation follows a formal complaint from the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE), which alleges that the base has been used for operations violating international law. Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel has rejected these claims, while the inquiry proceeds ahead of a scheduled visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Azores Regional Government is launching an independent scientific investigation into long-term pollution linked to the Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island. Authorities plan to urgently test local cattle for heavy metal contamination and have commissioned a technical committee to assess health risks to the population.

Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel has admitted that the agreement regarding the U.S. use of Lajes Air Base in the Azores should be reviewed, though he stated this should wait until the current Middle East crisis concludes. Meanwhile, President António José Seguro, currently in the Azores for Portugal Day, avoided commenting on the military base, emphasizing national unity and stability.

The civil terminal at Lajes Air Base in the Azores has sufficient fuel reserves to continue scheduled flights following a supply disruption. While recent fuel deliveries failed to meet quality standards set by Galp, the director of the terminal confirmed that military operations remain unaffected and civilian services will continue as planned.

Minister of National Defence Nuno Melo stated that Portugal acted as a reliable ally regarding the use of the Lajes Base by the United States. Melo dismissed concerns over recent comments by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, arguing that his statements should not be interpreted literally, while the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) criticized the government's handling of the situation.

Update: Left Bloc proposes parliamentary inquiry into Lajes Base

The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE) has announced it will propose a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry to investigate the government's handling of the Lajes Air Base. The party accuses the government of being overly compliant with U.S. requests, following conflicting reports about whether Portugal authorized military flights before specific requests were made.

A breakdown of the conflicting statements between Rubio and Rangel regarding the authorisation of flights from the Lajes Air Base in the Azores.

A 3.1 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale was recorded on Terceira Island this Saturday, April 25, at 14:23 local time. The Azores Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance Centre (Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores or CIVISA) reported the epicentre was eight kilometres east of Cabo da Praia. Residents in several locations felt the tremor at a maximum intensity of IV on the Modified Mercalli scale.

Update: Second earthquake recorded on Terceira Island

CIVISA reported a second, smaller tremor occurred on Terceira Island later on Saturday, April 25. This second earthquake registered a magnitude of 2.6 on the Richter scale and was recorded at 18:39 local time.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel stated that the Portuguese government has reasons to believe the agreement for the use of Lajes Base by the United States is being respected. During a parliamentary hearing, Rangel downplayed the significance of recent aircraft activity and condemned any military escalation in the conflict involving Iran.

The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE) has filed a formal complaint with the PGR requesting an investigation into the legality of the United States' use of the Lajes Air Base in the Azores. Party representative José Manuel Pureza argues that the current use of the base constitutes a violation of both international and Portuguese law. The party is calling for the government to clarify its position on military operations conducted at the site.

The President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, has advocated for a renegotiation of the Bilateral Defense and Cooperation Agreement with the United States. Bolieiro argues that a review is necessary to compensate the region for its increased geostrategic value, though he acknowledged the current political climate in the U.S. may complicate such discussions.

The Lajes Air Base (Base das Lajes) on Terceira Island has recorded its highest number of American aircraft since the start of the conflict in Iran. Currently, 32 US Air Force and Navy planes are stationed there, including 15 refueling tankers and electronic warfare aircraft used for missions in the Middle East. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro stated that the increased activity complies with existing bilateral agreements between Portugal and the United States.