Rubio visits Portugal, praising a ‘great ally’ and looking to build deeper ties
Rubio said Portugal is a cooperative ally and highlighted more than $20 billion in U.S. investment last year.
- On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Lisbon for the final stop of a three-nation NATO tour, characterizing Portugal as a "great ally" with a solid and growing relationship.
- Portugal granted Washington "conditional approval" to use Lajes Field for Iran war operations, contrasting with Spain, where Socialist leader Pedro refused American military access to Spanish bases.
- Portugal, a country of fewer than 11 million people, maintains around 25,000 military personnel and spends just over 2% of its GDP on defense, with plans to increase to around 3%.
- Following a formal complaint by the Left Bloc party, the country's attorney general is reviewing whether Lajes Field use was lawful, while Rubio met with Prime Minister Luis Montenegro during his visit.
- Originally used by the United States during the World War, the strategically located Lajes Field was scaled back after the Cold War but remains a critical refueling point for trans-Atlantic military flights.
32 Articles
32 Articles
The US Secretary of State avoided polemizing about Spain "so as not to create a problem" between Portugal "and another country" He thanked the Portuguese contribution to NATO: "He has been a great ally when not all have been." More information: USA tightens Portugal: Marco Rubio advocates F-35 hunting against European options to replace the F-16s
Secretary Rubio Holds a Joint Press Conference with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Portugal on the third stop of his NATO alliance tour. Portugal is very strategic and holds as strong intelligence network through its well-regarded diplomatic corps. [Listen to what Rubio says about the narcotrafficking operation that Portugal and the USA conduct together.] Secretary Rubio held a press conference with […]
Rubio cites critical minerals in touting stronger ties with Portugal
Portugal’s critical mineral reserves are a key asset for the U.S., Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday, framing them as part of the foundation for deeper bilateral economic and technological cooperation between the countries. During a joint press conference with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel in Lisbon, Rubio described Portugal as an “ideal gateway” for American technology companies that are seeking to enter Europe, citing …
He sought to convey peace of mind to the European allies, dismissing any intention of violating autonomy
U.S. Secretary of State said the F-35 are the "best" warnings in the world. Rangel stressed that acquisition is not yet guaranteed. Review of the Lajes agreement will not have been part of the talks
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