Portugal has permitted 76 landings by U.S. military aircraft at the Lajes air base in the Azores, along with 25 overflights of its territory, since the onset of the U.S.-Israeli conflict involving Iran. This authorization was granted on the strict condition that the base would not be used to launch attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel addressed a parliamentary hearing, affirming that the U.S. has respected this condition, reflecting a spirit of “loyal cooperation” between the two NATO allies. However, he noted that on multiple occasions, Portugal has denied landing requests from U.S. aircraft.
Meanwhile, several European countries including Spain, France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland have either restricted or outright refused U.S. military aircraft access to their airspace or bases in connection with the escalating conflict with Iran.
In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran, demanding the end of its blockade of Gulf oil by 8 p.m. Washington time on Tuesday (3:30 a.m. Wednesday in Tehran), warning that failure to comply would result in the destruction of every bridge and power plant in Iran.
Rangel emphasized Portugal’s firm stance against any attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, stating that this principle was a key condition for allowing the use of Lajes air base. He explained that Lisbon authorizes the base’s use for military operations only if the response is deemed “necessary and proportional” and strictly avoids civilian targets.
He also highlighted Portugal’s commitment to transparency, noting that the government publicly announces when it authorizes such use and when U.S. aircraft transit through its territory. He contrasted this with other European governments that handle such matters independently. Rangel reiterated Portugal’s support for a diplomatic solution to the conflict involving Iran.
Lajes Air Base serves as a strategic hub, hosting the U.S. Air Force’s 65th Air Base Wing. It provides critical base and en route support for U.S., NATO, and allied operations across the region.
