Initial “situation normal” statements belie general “bewilderment”
With opposition parties reacting in incredulity to news that one of Portugal’s former colonies, with which the government seemingly enjoys an excellent relationship” has signed an open ended military agreement with Russia – allowing Russia to visit the island archipelago with its aircraft, warships and other vessels – foreign affairs minister Paulo Rangel has admitted “surprise” and “apprehension”.
He said on air in interview with SIC Notícias last night: “ As soon as news of this agreement broke, we entered into consultations with the São Tomé authorities to explain that Portugal – in the first place – and, in the meantime, throughout the day other European States, express apprehension and bewilderment at this agreement.”
Rangel voiced his concerns directly to his counterpart in São Tomé, acknowledging that the country is an “independent and sovereign” state with “full legitimacy” to make its own choices.
“Given that we are in an international situation in which the Russian Federation started a war of aggression which, moreover, jeopardises the European continent, we are obviously very concerned,” he told SIC.
Diplomatic channels have been activated to assess the situation and assert Portugal’s views on this partnership, Rangel added.
Portugal’s Liberal Initiative (IL) party was among the first to register concern over what it sees as ‘Russia’s rapprochement with the countries of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)’.
IL says it will be calling Paulo Rangel to parliament for further explanations.
In his interview with SIC, the minister stressed that Portugal cannot talk about the CPLP “as if (it) had some kind of guardianship over any State” in the community.
“The relationship between Portugal and any other CPLP State is one of equals,” he emphasised.
He recalled that in the past, shortly after decolonisation, Portugal had “intense relations” with all CPLP States, many of which had relations with the Soviet Union, which they later maintained with the Russian Federation
“This has never prevented Portugal from establishing cooperation with these States,” he said.
But the news of this military agreement comes at a time when Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embaló has been visiting Russia, during which he assured Russian president Vladimir Putin that he can count on Guinea-Bissau (another member State of the CPLP)”as a permanent ally”.
Umaro Sissoco Embaló thanked Putin for “all the support” that Guinea-Bissau received from the former Soviet Union during the armed struggle for independence and emphasised that this contribution is most visible in the armed forces, writes Lusa.
Embaló also urged Putin to visit Guinea-Bissau ‘as soon as he tours Africa’, extending the invitation to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Source: LUSA
