The Portuguese Ministry of National Defense confirmed on Sunday that the United States requested authorization on June 18 for 12 tanker aircraft to use the Lajes Base on Terceira Island in the Azores. This request received a positive response from the government led by Luís Montenegro of the Democratic Alliance.
In a statement issued to newsrooms on June 22, the ministry headed by Nuno Melo stated that the U.S. “requested, through a diplomatic note, authorization for 12 tanker aircraft to use the Lajes Base, which was granted.”
The Ministry of Defense further emphasized that “this is a standard procedure” and that “the aircraft in the Azores are air refueling planes.” It added, “These are not offensive military assets but solely refueling aircraft.”
The ministry noted that under the Portugal-U.S. Cooperation and Defense Agreement, using the Lajes Base for the stationing or transit of military aircraft requires prior authorization from the Portuguese state, which grants specific, quarterly, or permanent overflight and landing permissions not only to the U.S. but to many other countries.
Based on these authorizations, “the stationing of military aircraft is typically notified 72 hours in advance or with shorter notice due to the unpredictability of certain missions,” explained the ministry.
“No U.S. Combat Assets at Lajes Base for Over a Month”
The government also clarified that “there have been no U.S. combat assets passing through Lajes Base for over a month” and that apart from this request, submitted “through regular and appropriate channels,” there were no further contacts from U.S. authorities.
The matter concerns the presence of over a dozen U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft at Lajes Air Base, utilized militarily by the U.S. as part of a cooperation agreement, whose purpose has not been fully clarified. On Friday, 12 of these aircraft were observed at the location.
Parties Question Government About Lajes Base
Since it was revealed that at least 12 U.S. Air Force planes had been at Lajes Base on Terceira Island in the Azores, just before the U.S. attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, political parties have been seeking explanations from the government.
José Luís Carneiro, a candidate for the PS leadership, emphasized the importance of understanding these movements for everyone to be aware of the state’s international responsibilities. Previously, Francisco César, a deputy and leader of PS Azores, stated that the socialists wanted to know if the government had been notified by U.S. authorities.
The political party Livre questioned the prime minister about the increased use of Lajes Base by the U.S. Air Force and urged the government to oppose NATO’s goal of investing 5% of GDP in defense. On X (formerly Twitter), Rui Tavares asserted that “Trump is a war president” and that “Portugal cannot stand by his side.”
Trump é um presidente de guerra. Portugal não pode estar do seu lado.
“Considera o Governo q estes ataques respeitam o Direito Internacional, designada/ a Carta das Nações Unidas? Caso contrário, q pretende o Governo fazer para condenar estes ataques?”https://t.co/H4DNrYi1AE
— rui tavares (@ruitavares) June 22, 2025
Similarly, on social media, the national coordinator of the Left Bloc (BE), Mariana Mortágua, called for Portugal to condemn the “Trump and Netanyahu plan” to dominate the Middle East, urging the government to prevent U.S. use of Lajes Base.
Já conhecemos outras guerras preventivas, baseadas em ameaças inventadas. O plano de Trump e Netanyahu para dominarem o Médio Oriente é ilegal e terá consequências terríveis no mundo. Portugal deve condena-lo e impedir a utilização das bases norte americanas em solo nacional.
— mariana mortágua (@MRMortagua) June 22, 2025
Before the bombings, on Saturday night, the secretary-general of the PCP also rejected the notion that Portugal would again have “its hands stained” and be “an accomplice to war” with the use of the Lajes Air Base by Americans.
“Facing the American planes stationed at Lajes Base, it’s important not to repeat the sad episode that occurred with Iraq,” stated the communist leader, Paulo Raimundo, during a public session in Beja.
The secretary-general of the PCP refused on Saturday night that Portugal would again have “its hands stained” and be “an accomplice to war” with the use of the Lajes Air Base, in the Azores, by the Americans.
Lusa | 01:28 – 22/06/2025
André Ventura, president of Chega, stated emphatically that “Iran MUST NEVER have nuclear weapons,” adding that anyone who does not comprehend this “is playing with our collective security and our future.”
“I think it is, or should be, a consensus in Portugal and Europe that Iran MUST NEVER have nuclear weapons. Anyone who does not understand this is playing with our collective security and our future,” Ventura wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Acho que é, ou deveria ser, consensual em Portugal e na Europa que o Irão JAMAIS deve ter armas nucleares. Quem não perceber isto está a brincar com a nossa segurança coletiva e com o nosso futuro.
— André Ventura (@AndreCVentura) June 22, 2025
“Compliance with Base Access Agreements”
When questioned by Lusa about the presence of planes at the Lajes Base, a source from the U.S. Department of Defense stated that “U.S. European Command routinely accommodates U.S. military aircraft (and personnel) on a transient basis, in compliance with base access and overflight agreements with allies and partners.”
On Wednesday, Lusa questioned the same source again regarding a potential increase in military activity at Lajes due to the Middle East situation, but it was communicated that no changes were to be announced that day.
Read Also: U.S. Attacks Iran. Meanwhile, parties question the government about Lajes Base
