The Presidency of the Republic, meeting today in a regular session at the Palácio de Belém in Lisbon under the leadership of President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, conducted a status update on the revision of the Statute of the Armed Forces Service Members.
This update had been previously addressed in earlier meetings of this advisory body to the head of state, notably on September 12 last year, following an earlier meeting in July.
The note states that the Superior Council of Defence also reviewed the international defense and security situation, focusing on Ukraine and the Middle East.
A unanimous favorable opinion was given for the proposed adjustments to the Deployed National Forces, after considering their military suitability and financial feasibility.
Members of this body also examined the “investment plan of 2% of GDP in the National Defense area until the end of 2025,” a commitment made by Portugal at the last NATO summit held in The Hague, Netherlands, at the end of June.
The council unanimously decided to express its gratitude and praise to the Armed Forces for their role in Portuguese society.
The last meeting of the Superior Council of Defence took place on July 8, where, according to the President of the Republic, investments in the sector until 2035 and the need to revise the Military Programming Law were analyzed for the first time.
According to the Constitution, the Superior Council of National Defense is a specific collegial body, chaired by the President of the Republic, acting as an advisory entity for national defense issues and the organization, functioning, and discipline of the Armed Forces.
The council includes the prime minister; the ministers of state and national defense, foreign affairs, internal administration, finance, and authorities responsible for industry, energy, transport, and communications; the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces; and the navy, army, and air force chiefs.
Additional members are the representatives of the Republic and the presidents of the autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira, the president of the National Defense Commission of the Assembly of the Republic, and two other deputies.
