Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, defended his decision to allow the United States to use the Lajes air base, on the Azores islands, during the bombing campaign against Iran, a position contrary to that of neighboring Spain, which refused similar requests.
A long-standing agreement with the United States allows Washington to use the base without prior authorization in peacetime, but requires Portugal to give its approval 🏽 in times of hostilities.
Montenegro told Parliament this Wednesday that the US use of the base is in accordance with Portuguese legislation and agreements sealed with the US. Authorization was granted for defensive purposes, based on need and against military targets, in accordance with international law, he said.
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‘Portugal objectively has a close relationship with our ally, the United States,’ Montenegro told parliamentarians.
“Iran has repeatedly violated international norms with its nuclear ambitions and long-range missile capabilities,” he said, describing “the country as a state sponsor of international terrorism.”
Portugal’s position contrasts sharply with that of Spain, which angered President Donald Trump by refusing permission to use its bases. Montenegro did not directly address the difference between the neighbors, but noted that Portugal was a founding member of the NATO alliance in 1949, while Spain only joined in 1982.
For him, the government believes that diplomacy should be the priority, but since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has attacked other countries that had not previously been involved in any hostilities.
The government will also implement an ‘extraordinary and temporary’ reduction in the tax on petroleum and energy products to offset any increase in the price of fuel above 0.10 euros ($0.12) from this week’s price due to the conflict, he added.
