Latest news and stories about national defense in Portugal for expats and residents.
Socialist leader José Luís Carneiro has criticised the government for its failure to revise the National Defence Strategic Concept, citing the delay as evidence of incompetence and a devaluation of the Azores' strategic importance.
The President of the Republic visited the Santa Margarida Military Camp in Constância on Thursday.
The war in Ukraine has just entered a new phase, and this change should force us to urgently rethink some of our most comfortable certainties about the future of our Armed Forces.
Portugal’s defence minister, Nuno Melo, has announced that Portugal’s Armed Forces currently comprise 24,517 military personnel – emphasising that this is “a reversal of the downward trend” of the recent The post Portugal’s military strength ‘recovering’ – but still short of 32,000 target appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Nuno Melo insisted on a reversal of the downward trend, although the number is still far from the legal target of 32,000.
“Defence does not live by the Strategic Concept alone,” states Nuno Melo regarding the document that determines Armed Forces missions and investments. However, he guarantees that an update is “coming soon.”
Nuno Melo welcomed the reversal of the decline as “remarkable” but urged caution, stating there is “no room for euphoria.” Portugal had 29,479 military personnel in 2015 and reached a low of 23,757 in 2023.
Despite the reversal of a decade-long decline, the exact number of personnel remains unknown. Open sources in official reports are contradictory. The Socialist Party (PS) is protesting.
The election is scheduled for April 16.
Trump also believes that NATO will not be there when the US needs help again. Additionally, the Armed Forces will receive Black Hawk helicopters and C-130 aircraft this year to fight wildfires.
“Reaffirming our commitment and contribution to collective defence,” states the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa.
Military service can no longer continue to be the sole defence against external threats.
The PS study aims to analyse the National Defence Day model and explore “short-term programmes or flexible modalities for military service”. The initiative follows a European trend.
Chega has also submitted a proposal recommending that the Government extend the National Defence Day to at least five working days and allow for the “military inspection” of those summoned.
The Chega parliamentary group argues that the current model is clearly insufficient given the demands and dangers of the current international security context.
Chega further argues that 'this reformulation will provide the Portuguese State with a more updated view of citizens of mobilisable age, thus facilitating the planning and potential activation of mechanisms to reinforce personnel in emergency situations or external threats'.
This was the first meeting of this council with the new President of the Republic, who has already expressed concern regarding a “balanced” modernisation of the Armed Forces.
The presentation ceremony of the Armed Forces to the new President of the Republic took place in Santarém, at the Jardim da Liberdade.
The president argued that investment in defence and the modernisation of the Armed Forces must not overlook the national moment of social urgency.
In these different times, it is necessary to rethink the framework, policies, and instruments of National Defence. The author argues that several myths conditioning national thought must be dismantled, such as the false opposition between Europe and the Atlantic, the misconception of Portugal as a maritime power, the unrealistic view of Portugal as a hinge between North America and Europe, the fallacy of the archipelagic country, the non-existent strategic triangle of the mainland and islands, and the lingering cultural influence of Sebastianism, which reflects a culture of absence rather than serious progress.
The PS questioned the Government this Tuesday about the relocation of the Air Force Shooting Range from Alcochete to Alter do Chão, demanding details on studies conducted, the timeline, and whether the decision was coordinated with local entities. The inquiry was submitted to parliament and is addressed to the Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo.
The European security environment has changed profoundly since 2014, which helps to understand the relevance of mandatory military service.
The PS leader reacted to the fact that Nuno Melo stated he had been waiting several months for the Foreign Minister's contribution to finalise the National Strategic Defence Concept.
The Air Force firing range, currently located in Alcochete, Setúbal district, will move to Alter do Chão, in Portalegre, due to the construction of the new Luís de Camões airport, the Minister of National Defence announced today.
The proposed bill provides for two additional seats on the Superior Council of National Defence; debating and approving the Strategic Concept in Parliament; providing opinions on international missions; and a personnel law, among other measures.
National Defence should not be the exclusive responsibility of a restricted group of volunteers, because if peace and sovereignty are common goods, their safeguarding must be shared by all.
