Latest news and stories about military base in Portugal for expats and residents.
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Paulo Rangel responded to the question of whether the existing agreement with the United States regarding the military base in the Azores is still valid.
Refuelling aircraft were part of the United States military activity recorded at Lajes Base, on the Azorean island of Terceira, on the eve of the attack on Iran.
The use of Lajes Air Base for refuelling American planes heading to the Middle East to support operations against Iran has once again placed Portugal at the centre of a sensitive controversy. Experts dispute the Foreign Minister's version, arguing that the United States would need explicit permission to use the base for military offensives. The minister claimed that no aircraft that passed through Lajes was used in the attack, but were involved in refuelling, implying that Portugal facilitated American and Israeli intervention, which has political consequences. The issue is complex; theoretically, Portugal could refuse base use as per a treaty from the 1950s, but practically, such a refusal could jeopardise a long-standing alliance crucial for national security. The base's concession during the Cold War was part of the US's aim to present itself as a democratic power, distinct from former European empires. Seventy years later, while the world has changed and Portugal has democratized, its geographical position remains the same, necessitating a close relationship with the dominant maritime power. Any Portuguese government must decide whether to authorise the use of Lajes, balancing legal rights against strategic necessities in a world where geography and power often outweigh formal declarations.
The Portuguese Socialist Party (PS) is seeking to question the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Parliament regarding the increased U.S. military movements at the Lajes Base in the Azores. The PS emphasizes the need for clarity on whether Portugal was properly informed or authorized for these operations, which may involve U.S. military actions outside NATO agreements. The context includes recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran, raising concerns about the strategic use of the base amid regional tensions. The PS's initiative aims to clarify the legal and diplomatic framework governing U.S. activities at Lajes, highlighting Portugal's strategic importance and the need for transparency in military cooperation.
