Portugal has granted conditional authorization to the United States for the employ of Lajes Base, located in the Azores, following U.S. Strikes against Iran. The authorization came after Washington initiated military action, according to Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel. The move underscores the complex geopolitical considerations facing European nations as tensions escalate in the Middle East.
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Rangel stated in an interview that President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President-elect, and leaders from the three major opposition parties were consulted prior to the decision. He clarified that the authorization was granted not under the terms of a specific agreement, but under a general decree governing overflights and landings of state aircraft – including military flights – from any country requiring permission.
The Foreign Minister explained that the United States already has a standing annual authorization for such use. Prior to Saturday’s U.S. Attack on Iran, there had been no specific requests related to military intervention. “All authorizations were given under the general regime,” Rangel said. He described the initial authorizations as “tacit” and not directly linked to the agreement itself.
“Everything was done in accordance with what all Portuguese governments do and what is the interpretation,” Rangel assured, acknowledging that a military intervention had effectively occurred starting Saturday. He added that the U.S. Had communicated its military action, triggering a shift to the full terms of the agreement. Further details on the nature of that agreement can be found here.
The decision comes amid scrutiny regarding Portugal’s role in the escalating conflict. The Iranian ambassador to Lisbon has expressed concern, suggesting that allowing the U.S. To use Lajes Base effectively makes Portugal complicit in what he termed an act of aggression, as reported by SIC Noticias. Rangel, however, maintained that no attacks originated from Portuguese territory and that Portugal is not directly involved in the conflict, as detailed in Expresso.
