“In this matter, [the Government] will count on Chega for pragmatism, responsibility, and decision as quickly as possible, because this is an area that requires and implies prompt action from the Government of Portugal, as we are very behind in what we should have done,” André Ventura stated to journalists at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Lisbon.
The Chega leader was speaking after a roughly one-hour meeting with Luís Montenegro called by the executive, also with the PS, in light of the NATO summit taking place next week in The Hague, Netherlands.
Ventura declined to engage in “political games” or “confrontation” regarding the defense area and refrained from sharing details of the plan the Government claims to have to reach 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in military spending this year, a goal included in the executive’s program initially expected for 2029.
“I broadly agreed with what the Prime Minister said on this matter. I think we are in agreement regarding the targets that need to be achieved. It’s evident that we are still talking about a preliminary conversation. As far as I understand, neither the budget nor the structural investment plan is completely defined, but there is a desire to achieve these goals,” he added.
When asked if it is possible for Portugal to meet the 5% GDP target in military spending, which will be proposed to allies at the NATO summit next week and has been advocated by the Trump administration, Ventura considered that Portugal currently lacks the conditions to reach that level of investment.
“At this moment, 5% is impractical in Portugal, to be honest. So, we have to be realistic. Anyone who says they will do it overnight will not. However, we must understand that we are in a context of regional, local, and internationally impactful war, and we will probably have to progressively increase these targets,” he emphasized, rejecting that a particular administration imposes the target.
According to Ventura, “Europe should have assumed its own industry and internal defense market long ago.”
“If Europeans can produce, sell, buy, and apply, why are we resorting to Americans or Chinese if we can have our own industry? It doesn’t necessarily have to do with President Donald Trump, but with the fact that Europe should be autonomous in this matter,” he advocated.
After the Government and the PS set red lines that investment in defense cannot affect the sustainability of public finances or the welfare state, Ventura also agreed that this increase in spending cannot be done “at the expense of reducing pensions” or “disinvesting in security forces,” for example.
“But I have long believed that we can have solid investment in defense that yields a return for the Portuguese GDP and budget, with our own industrial development,” he stressed.
The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, reiterated today that the increase in defense investment will not affect the balance of public accounts or social spending and expressed openness to the contributions of the opposition, especially from the larger parliamentary groups.
On June 5, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte officially proposed that the organization’s leaders agree at this month’s summit in The Hague to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP: 3.5% for “pure defense” spending and 1.5% of annual GDP on investments related to defense and security, such as infrastructure and industry.
