The leader of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), Paulo Raimundo, expressed concern over the deployment of U.S. aircraft at the Lajes Base, urging that the mistakes made during the Iraq war should not be repeated. Raimundo made these remarks during a public session in Beja.
He referred to the Iraq war period, alleging that Portugal, specifically Lajes Base, hosted “the meeting of shame, the meeting of lies, the meeting of hypocrisy [which] resulted in millions of deaths.”
On Saturday, the PCP demanded an “immediate and urgent clarification” from the Portuguese government regarding the use of Lajes Air Base in the Azores by the U.S. Air Force, rejecting its potential use “in the escalation against Iran.”
“Reports about the presence of U.S. military aircraft in Terceira, in the Azores autonomous region, require an immediate and urgent clarification from the PSD/CDS government,” the statement confirmed.
Over a dozen U.S. Air Force refueling planes are reportedly stationed at Lajes Air Base, utilized by the United States under a cooperation agreement. The purpose of their presence remains partially unclear.
During an event in Beja presenting CDU’s municipal election candidates, with Vítor Picado leading the council candidacy, the presence of U.S. aircraft was a key topic.
“Our country, the Government of Portugal, cannot once again have blood on its hands, cannot again be complicit in war, death, and destruction. From our country, no, from our country, no, no, and no,” he emphasized.
In his address, the PCP leader stated, “U.S. military planes can take off wherever they want, but not from our country, not for war,” and added, “Everything for peace, everything for solidarity, everything for cooperation, let all planes come for that.”
He further insisted, “For bombs, for war, and for death, turn around and return to your land, those yes, return once and for all to your land.”
Raimundo also criticized what he described as “cynical” and “hypocritical” individuals whose “hands are dirty and stained with blood” and who “do nothing to stop the genocide against the Palestinian people by Israel.”
The new government’s program was another target of Raimundo’s extended speech, which he described as “an affront to the lives of the majority and a declaration of war on those who work in this country.”
On Friday, Lusa agency observed the presence of 12 U.S. refueling aircraft at Lajes Base.
When questioned about the presence of these aircraft at Lajes, a U.S. Department of Defense source stated only that “the U.S. European Command routinely hosts U.S. military aircraft (and personnel) in transit, in accordance with base access and overflight agreements with allies and partners.”
On Wednesday, Lusa had already inquired with the U.S. Department of Defense about a possible increase in military activity at Lajes due to the Middle East situation, but it was stated that there were no changes to announce on that day.
