Paulo Rangel highlighted the “commendable” work of Portuguese military personnel in the Central African Republic, integrated into United Nations and European Union missions, or the involvement of Portuguese military personnel in Slovakia and Romania, within the scope of NATO
This Tuesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs ruled out sending Portuguese people to a war scenario in Ukraine, but admitted that Portugal could integrate a “peace force” in the context of an agreement with security guarantees.
“Portuguese people, we won’t go to a war scenario, that’s for sure. But, if there is peace, it’s not the first time we’ve been part of peacekeeping forces”, said Paulo Rangel, responding to a question from Chega during a hearing at the parliamentary committee on Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities.
The official highlighted the “commendable” work of Portuguese military personnel in the Central African Republic, integrated into United Nations and European Union missions, or the involvement of Portuguese military personnel in Slovakia and Romania, within the scope of NATO.
Portuguese participation in missions in these two European countries, in fact, “is very similar to what they might ask for [a Portugal] to integrate into Ukraine in the future, if there is a peace treaty or an agreement that guarantees absolutely indisputable levels of security”, highlighted the head of diplomacy.
Rangel admitted other types of cooperation, such as “in the rear”, exemplifying the Portuguese presence in the Baltic Countries and Lithuania, and through the defense industry.
