US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, to discuss bilateral ties and transatlantic security. Marco Rubio thanked Portugal for its close cooperation in both economic and defense sectors. The conversation highlights the continued strength of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praises Portuguese defense cooperation
Wednesday, 1 April 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Paulo Rangel is a Portuguese politician from the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) who has been a prominent voice on defence and foreign‑policy issues and has served in the European Parliament. He appears in this story because he commented publicly on the controversy over Lajes Air Base being used to refuel US planes.
Sources (5)
- Rubio thanked Portugal for its "close cooperation" with the USARTP Notícias · 1:31am, 1 Apr 2026
- Marco Rubio spoke with Paulo Rangel to thank Portugal for its cooperation in the defence sectorCNN Portugal · 9:52pm, 31 Mar 2026
- Rubio thanked Rangel for Portugal's "close" economic and defence cooperationExpresso · 10:46pm, 31 Mar 2026
- Rubio praises Portugal in phone call with RangelObservador · 10:16pm, 31 Mar 2026
- Marco Rubio thanks Paulo Rangel for "economic and defence cooperation" during phone callCorreio da Manhã · 10:09pm, 31 Mar 2026
