Lajes Air Base, in the Azores
“It’s the general picture” – but the USA has requested more authorizations than normal for the Lajes Base, admits Paulo Rangel.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs admitted that the United States may use Lajes Base for military operation against Iran without informing Portugalbut highlighted that the Government defends the path of peace.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers in Brussels, Paulo Rangel was asked whether Portugal formally authorized the use of the Lajes Base in the context of possible military action by the United States against Iran.
In his response, the Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted that “the use of the Lajes Base by the United States has been done exclusively, and as it has to be, in accordance with the treaty that exists between the two countries”.
“It is only related to overflight, parking, and possibly aircraft stopovers and this has been authorized under the general terms of the agreement”, he stated, recalling that this agreement provides for “tacit authorizations, which are given within a relatively short period of time”.
Rangel admitted that, in the last few weeksthe use of these authorizations tacit has been “bigger than usual”but highlighted that this has already happened “more than once” since he took office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, in April 2024.
“There is no picture other than the big picture. And, therefore, any other operation does not have to be authorized, known or communicated by Portugal. It never was and it wasn’t going to be now”, he stated.
When asked whether this means that the United States, within the scope of this treaty, can use the Lajes Base for an operation in Iran without Portugal’s knowledge, Paulo Rangel replied: “Exactly, that’s true”.
“They can, for any operation, use it without Portugal having to have knowledge. This is how it is in the treaties and this is how it is happening with all European bases, in the most varied countries”, he said.
When asked whether Portugal sees no problem with the United States using the Lajes Base for an operation against Iran, the minister replied that “Portugal has made a systematic appeal, also on the issue of Iran, for issues and differences to be resolved through peace”.
“That has been Portugal’s position and continues to be,” he said.
