With an impressive build-up of United States military planes at Portugal’s Lajes air base in the Azores, minister of foreign affairs Paulo Rangel has responded to the alarm raised by various political quarters saying ‘there is nothing Portugal can do’.
If the U.S. wants to use Lajes for a military operation against Iran without telling Portugal, it can, he said, adding that “the (Portuguese) government is all for peace”.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a meeting of European counterparts in Brussels, Mr Rangel was asked whether Portugal had formally authorised the use of Lajes Air Base in the context of possible U.S. military action against Iran.
In his response, he said “the use of the Lajes Base by the United States has been exclusively, and as it should be, in accordance with the treaty that exists between the two countries”.
“It only relates to overflights, parking, and possibly aircraft stopovers, and this has been authorised under the general terms of the agreement. In short, the agreement provides for “tacit authorisations, which are given with a relatively short notice period”.
Mr Rangel did acknowledge that, over recent weeks, the use of these tacit authorisations has been “greater than usual,” but added that this has happened “more than once” since he took office in April 2024.
“There is no framework other than the general framework. Therefore, any other operation does not have to be authorised, known or communicated by Portugal. It never has been, and it is not going to be now,” he insisted.
Put very much on the spot with the question ‘does this mean the United States, under the treaty, can use the Lajes Base for an operation in Iran without Portugal’s knowledge’, Mr Rangel replied: “Exactly, that’s true (…) They can use it for any operation without Portugal having to know about it. That’s how it is in the treaties and that’s how it is happening with all European bases, from a wide variety of countries.”
This is actually where Mr Rangel may have been a tad selective. It is quite clear from online reports that the UK has not been in the least bit happy to allow the U.S. to use its air bases – essentially because its government fears a U.S. attack on Iran would be a violation of international law.
Even on the question of international law, Paulo Rangel seemed a little vague. His words: “We have to comply with international law and comply with the Lajes Agreement” show that Portugal is not as concerned (as the UK) with whether or not the United States complies with international law.
This country wants to tread a fine line (as it invariably has in modern history), and try not to ruffle feathers.
Elsewhere today, the government, for example, is encouraging businesses to “remain focused on the American market, regardless of developments in tariffs” – ‘developments’ being a relatively diplomatic description for what the secretary of state for the economy, João Rui Ferreira, later admitted means “we do not yet fully understand what lies ahead”.
That sentence works for everything right now: Portugal’s position regarding U.S. intentions for Iran, and tariffs.
Source material: LUSA
