“This investment [in defense] can only proceed, and, returning to those who sell demagoguery, when they want to solve problems by arguing with the alternative between health or housing or education and defense, I would like to say that a country that considers itself sovereign and has defense as one of its primary expressions of sovereignty, nothing should be seen as an alternative,” stated Nuno Melo.
This position was expressed by the Minister of Defense during the opening speech of a national defense conference organized by the Diário de Notícias at the Military Academy in Amadora.
Nuno Melo assured that increasing defense investment does not jeopardize budget balance, “the good performance of the economy,” and social protections, adding that Portugal, as a NATO member, must honor its commitments.
Portugal must ensure defense investment of at least 2% of GDP by 2029 – a goal that, as the Prime Minister has already stated, the government intends to anticipate, he added.
“I would like to say that in times of war, as in times of peace, indeed the Armed Forces are not a whim. The Armed Forces are the first expression of sovereignty, they are the last frontier of our independence,” he emphasized.
The Minister of Defense said there is no intention to “demolish” the welfare state, as argued by the “sellers of demagoguery,” stating that, currently, the funds allocated for defense in the State Budget are significantly lower than those for social security, health, education, or health.
Nuno Melo also addressed what he called the “lightening of the role” of the United States in NATO while “transferring part of its geostrategic attention to the Indo-Pacific,” adding that “cannot truly blame” this shift considering the relevance of Asian economies.
Nevertheless, he highlighted that the country owes “more than 75 years of peace” to NATO and that “forsaking NATO now, when everything is more uncertain and dark” would not be “particularly smart,” adding that he does not confuse “an administration with a nation” and that it is necessary “to admit that, in recent years, Europe was far from ensuring the fulfillment of commitments it undertook.”
The Defense Minister argued that the need for Portugal to invest more in defense should not be seen as a problem but as a “historic moment” and an “opportunity” that the country “cannot waste.”
“Portugal must be up to the level and dimensions of its time and what is asked of us. It would be unforgivable if we were not able, at the same time, to seize everything that is asked of us. And if the first certainty we must have is that we need NATO, at least I am certain of that,” he said.
Nuno Melo reiterated the need to strengthen the European pillar of Atlantic defense, emphasizing that European countries need to “produce much more in Europe and buy much more in Europe,” ensuring that Portugal will be part of this shift.
“Only in this way can we guarantee a fairer sharing of burdens on one hand, balance the transatlantic scale on the other, but also contribute to the strategic autonomy of the European Union itself. It means that defense has to become part of the European State of Mind. And it is starting to,” he concluded.
