“I believe it’s a misguided path to acquire military equipment just because NATO and the European Union think it’s what we should do. We must make investments in this area that don’t compromise public investment,” he argued.
António Filipe spoke to journalists shortly after the Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo, announced that Portugal’s candidacy for European SAFE loans includes the acquisition of frigates, refurbishment of the Alfeite Arsenal, and production of armored vehicles, ammunition, satellites, and drones in Portugal.
“We should focus our defense investment efforts on what is important for the Portuguese Armed Forces. What is important for the Portuguese Armed Forces is to attract young people for military service, as our Armed Forces are very deficient in human resources because military careers are not minimally attractive,” said the candidate supported by the PCP.
“And we must have equipment in accordance with our responsibility to defend the national territory, considering the vast maritime area under our responsibility, which obviously requires means for the Navy and Air Force,” he added.
On the 28th, the Council of Ministers approved Portugal’s formal candidacy for the European Defense SAFE loan program, amounting to 5.8 billion euros.
Following the initial candidacy, “a process of contracting is now opened until the end of February, when the European Commission will confirm exactly what will happen,” explained Nuno Melo today.
For António Filipe, who spoke to journalists after participating in a Fórum Manifesto session in Lisbon regarding the presidential elections on January 18, the Government should make “a very judicious investment” that doesn’t compromise the country’s social needs.
“Investing in national defense by taking out a loan that we will later have to repay, because despite the European Union stating that now, as there is a need to invest in weapons, these loans will not count towards aggravating public accounts, the fact is that this is not given. In other words, this money that is lent to us for purchasing weapons will have to be paid back,” he clarified.
