“We categorically reject the attacks that the Russian regime has made in recent days on Ukrainian cities. All attacks are unacceptable aggressions with great disproportion,” emphasized Paulo Rangel during a joint press conference with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, who is visiting Lisbon.
“We will always stand by international law, which means condemning Russia and supporting the efforts that Europe, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, other countries, the United States, and particularly NATO, have made to back Ukraine,” he added.
Rangel, who declined to comment on remarks made by the U.S. President about the Russian counterpart—Donald Trump accused Vladimir Putin of being “completely crazy”—stated that Portugal is part of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’, aimed at preparing the future and providing security guarantees to Ukraine.
“We also signed a security guarantees treaty with Ukraine with President [Volodymyr] Zelensky here in Portugal in May last year and fully support all efforts by the European Union and particularly the United Kingdom, which has always been here, and Canada too, always on Ukraine’s side and NATO, and we will maintain that,” he insisted.
Regarding Defense spending commitments, Rangel reminded that Portugal is a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and assured that it will fulfill these commitments.
“Obviously, there are two stages here, one is the stage of 2% [of gross domestic product], where Portugal was not yet at the level required for NATO countries. Furthermore, we have this proposal of 5%, but as you know, Secretary-General Mark Rutte divided it into 3.5%, which will specifically be investment in defense in the most classic and traditional sense, and then 1.5% in infrastructures,” he specified.
“This means roads, ports, airports, many of which are dual-use structures, that is, critical infrastructure for each state, but in a time when risks are greater, they need to be prepared for other eventualities,” he concluded.
