A surge in US aircraft activity at the Lajes air base in the Azores is covered by a decades-old bilateral treaty and does not require authorization from Lisbon, Portugal’s foreign minister said on Monday. The increase in US military flights has sparked concerns among Portugal’s left-wing opposition, who have called on the government to explain the legal basis behind the increase.
LISBON, Feb 23 (Reuters) – A surge in US aircraft activity at the Lajes air base in the Azores is covered by a decades-old bilateral treaty and does not require authorization from Lisbon, Portugal’s foreign minister said on Monday. The country’s left-wing opposition has called on the centre-right government to explain the legal basis behind the increase in US military flights and to clarify whether Lisbon had given approval.
Washington has embarked upon what it says is its largest military build-up in the Gulf since the 2003 Iraq War as hopes fade that it can negotiate a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear programme. Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said there had been “a more intensive use of the Lajes base in recent weeks” by US aircraft, but without any breach of the rules agreed between Portugal and the US under the 1951 treaty.
“(The increased use) does not need to be authorised, nor known, by Portugal,” Rangel told reporters. “Look at the past 50 or 60 years and you will see it has always been this way… and that is how it will continue. We fulfill our obligations,” he said. Rangel said Portugal has always urged diplomatic solutions to international tensions, including over Iran, and called for disputes to be settled peacefully.
The Lajes base, located in the Azores archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, has long served as a strategic transit point for US forces. “Portugal has always defended its alliance with the US and its membership of NATO, and that has not changed with geopolitical shifts,” he said. The increase in US military flights has sparked concerns among Portugal’s left-wing opposition, who have called on the government to explain the legal basis behind the increase.
According to a report by Reuters, the US has embarked on its largest military build-up in the Gulf since the 2003 Iraq War. The report also states that hopes are fading for a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear programme.
For more information on the US military build-up in the Gulf, readers can refer to the Reuters Middle East page. The page provides up-to-date news and analysis on the region, including the latest developments on Iran’s nuclear programme.
To stay informed about the latest news and analysis, readers can visit onlytrustedinfo.com. The website provides in-depth coverage of major news events, including the US military build-up in the Gulf and the latest developments on Iran’s nuclear programme.
