The use of the Lajes Air Base, located on Terceira Island in the Azores, by the United States shortly before the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities continues to spark controversy.
Some, like socialist João Soares and various political commentators, downplay the situation, insisting it is business as usual and “not an abnormality.” Major General Agostinho Costa expressed to Euronews that “a storm is being made in a teacup.”
The Portuguese Government and the President of the Republic have downplayed the incident. However, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa felt the need to clarify on Monday that Portugal was not “aware” of the U.S. attack plan on Tehran, the Iranian capital where the nuclear facilities were located.
“The Government informed me of what was happening. This request [for more than a dozen aircraft to use Lajes Air Base] was made by the United States within the framework of the longstanding agreement for refueling aircraft to supply the American fleet in the Atlantic, both naval and air. This is a normal situation that has happened and can happen,” Marcelo stated to journalists from Luanda, Angola.
According to the Head of State, this notification from the United States was received “a few days before” the attack on Iran, with no reference to the impending assault.
“I don’t know more than that. It was a few days before what happened. Not only were we unaware, but there was nothing in the notification pointing to that,” he further assured.
“If someone participates in any war, for any reason, they are part of that aggression”
However, the explanations from Marcelo and the Government seem insufficient for both the left-wing parties and Iran.
Speaking to Rádio Renascença on Monday, Iran’s ambassador to Lisbon, Majid Tafreshi, revealed that he would question the Portuguese executive about the U.S. use of Lajes Air Base.
“If someone participates in any war, for any reason, they are part of that aggression,” emphasized the diplomat, adding that more explanations are needed from the Government of Luís Montenegro about Portugal’s “neutrality” in the American attack on Iran.
The explanations given by the executive also fail to convince the Left, which, according to the newspaper Público, is considering a hearing with Defense Minister Nuno Melo in Parliament.
“There are missing pieces”
For instance, the Livre party argues that, “by stating that it was merely refueling aircraft and that the occurrence is habitual,” the ministry “did not fully answer the party’s questions,” nor clarified whether the U.S. planes that passed through Lajes Air Base might have indirectly supported operations against Iran, nor “ensured that national space will not be used for actions violating international law.”
In this context, Livre believes, as reported by Público, that “a hearing” with Nuno Melo is “justified,” while currently “considering that possibility.” “There are missing pieces, and we want to know what they are and why,” the party stressed.
“Government is avoiding”
According to the same publication, the PCP also believes that the Defense Minister failed to provide “the required clarifications” and accuses the Government of “avoiding confirmation of what seems increasingly evident: that there was an effective use of Lajes Air Base by the U.S. in the attack on Iran.” Consequently, the communists are considering “advancing with new initiatives” to bring more answers.
This leaves the question open: Can Portugal face issues for allowing the U.S. to land over a dozen refueling aircraft on Portuguese territory while attacking Iran?
