Portugal’s prime minister, LuĂs Montenegro, has said that the country may have to revise upwards its defence spending plans in the near future, while at the same time seeking to remain “as immune as possible” to the economic problems currently being experienced by France and Germany. The head of government made the statements in opening the debate to prepare for the European Council on December 19 and 20, to be chaired for the first time by its new president, AntĂłnio Costa – Montenegro’s predecessor as prime minister. Portugal is still some way from spending the âminimumâ 2% on defence, required by NATO – only expecting to achieve this by 2029.
