The Defense Minister, Nuno Melo, stated on Friday that when the government speaks of investing in defense, it is focused on “thinking about peace” and “deterrence mechanisms,” emphasizing that “this investment” involves “rules.”
In an interview with CNN Portugal, when questioned about whether Portugal will wait for European fighters or proceed with the American F35s, Nuno Melo highlighted that “being part of a 6th generation project has no costs, that’s the very purpose.”
“This places us in an advanced position regarding what the future holds. At the moment, replacing F-16 fighters is not on the table,” he noted.
He added: “When we talk about investments in the Armed Forces, we are discussing many resources. And when we talk about national defense, we think about starting with something that offers a great return to the Portuguese population. This includes equipment with dual-use potential.”
Thus, the official listed several situations, such as “a campaign health center that was in Corvo for a year,” “accommodation and transport modules” in São Jorge over six months, assisting populations following earthquakes, or “a surgical unit that was at the IPO in Lisbon for a year during renovations.”
“We are in a time where fires are a concern, and in 2024 alone, the army had 2,200 vehicles and over 530 military personnel conducting patrols, covering these and also later tasks like fire combat, performed by the Air Force and the Navy with marines,” he said, also noting that “emergency medical search and rescue actions, organ transportation, and repatriation” are carried out “using the Armed Forces.”
The minister emphasized that “when we talk about investing in the Armed Forces,” it is not about “weapons and ammunition.” “We are talking about the capability of the three branches to deliver a series of indisputable services,” he highlighted.
“When we invest, we invest in what might be a war situation, but we are investing thinking about peace. When we invest in national defense and the Armed Forces, we are strengthening deterrence mechanisms,” he stressed.
Investment? Government follows a “dual-rule brake”
When asked how the new airport fits into the dual-use qualification, Nuno Melo mentioned that at the “current airport there is an AT1, where military aircraft operate” and that the same will occur at the new airport.
“In this investment, we have rules, and we start with people. This includes salary frameworks, supplements, and the creation of the first protection and support mechanism in case of incapacity or death, which did not previously exist. This implies investment in people,” he stated.
Nuno Melo also addressed the issue of Military Health: “The military hospital is intended for the Armed Forces’ universe, but any remaining capacity serves the public National Health Service (SNS).”
“This year, we launched the construction of the Armed Forces Surgery Center, and we decided to purchase equipment like a surgical robot or CT scan devices. We are investing in military health, which also benefits the general population,” he said.
The Defense Minister – and CDS leader – also noted in the same interview that in defense investment, the government has a “dual-rule brake”: “never undermining the welfare state or the economy and strengthening it,” mentioning that, for example, an ocean patrol vessel is being built at the shipyards in Viana do Castelo.
He also mentioned that a KC 390 was designed by Portuguese engineers and that “each sale of these brings 11 million euros to the Portuguese economy.”
Recruitment and retention? “There were better numbers in all branches”
“We know that, for many years, recruitment and retention numbers consistently dropped. Why? Because there was no investment in people, in the men and women of the Armed Forces. We could have the best equipment, but if we don’t invest in the military, we don’t have Armed Forces,” he underscored.
Nuno Melo also noted that by the end of 2024, “there were better recruitment numbers in all branches” and greater retention, pointing to salary increases, supplements, social responses, and housing.
