Latest news and stories about defense strategy in Portugal for expats and residents.
European nations are conducting military exercises in Portugal to evaluate new defence strategies and capabilities inspired by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
European nations are evaluating new military technologies and strategies in Portugal, drawing insights from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In Portugal and across other EU member states, significant investment in Defence is expected to achieve Europe's strategic autonomy and address rising geopolitical risks. The CIP estimates that Portugal will spend approximately ten billion euros in the sector over the next decade, combining a 5.8 billion euro loan from the EU's SAFE instrument with at least 4.2 billion euros from NATO commitments. This financial effort should be viewed as a strategic investment rather than mere expenditure, aiming to foster industrial growth, technological innovation, and job creation. The CIP emphasizes the need for a national strategy that ensures domestic companies are integrated into these programmes to prevent the outflow of economic benefits to foreign suppliers, urging the Government to coordinate with the national industrial and scientific sectors to maximize the impact of this investment cycle.
Madalena Meyer Resende warns that Russian threats require a joint European response. She also states that the rapprochement with Canada is a diplomatic move for the United Kingdom to return to the European defence orbit.
Socialist Party (PS) Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro accused the Government of being unable to address strategic issues, citing the failure to revise the Strategic Concept of National Defence, which the socialists had approved in 2023. Speaking in the Azores, Carneiro highlighted that Defence Minister Nuno Melo is still waiting for input from Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel. Carneiro argued that this delay reflects a devaluation of the Azores' strategic importance and demonstrates the Government's overall incapacity to manage fundamental national security matters.
