
Investigation investigates the legality of the government's authorization for the transit of American aircraft during the conflict with Iran
AI-generated summary
The Lajes base operates under a 1951 bilateral defense treaty. The agreement allows American use without prior authorization in times of peace, but requires approval from Lisbon in war scenarios.
The Attorney General's Office of the Republic of Portugal opened this Saturday (3) an investigation into the legality of the authorization given by the center-right government for the United States to use the Lajes air base, in the Azores, during the conflict with Iran.
The inquiry was opened following a complaint filed by Bloco de Esquerda, a party opposing Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. A long-standing agreement with the US allows Washington to use the base without prior authorization in times of peace, but requires Lisbon's approval when there is war.
Unlike neighboring Spain, Portugal authorized several American transit flights through the base. The decision provoked criticism from left-wing opposition parties and opened a political debate about the country's role in operations linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
In a statement, Portugal's PGR reported that the investigation was opened following a complaint filed by parliamentarians from the Left Bloc, without giving further details. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment.
In April, the group asked prosecutors to investigate the US use of the air base, arguing that it represented a "flagrant violation of international law".
At the time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, stated that Portugal was not involved in the conflict and that the use of the military installation was in accordance with international law. According to the chancellor, authorization only came after Washington guaranteed that any operation would be defensive, necessary and proportionate, and restricted to military targets.
Portuguese prosecutors are governed by the principle of legality, which obliges them to investigate possible irregularities when there is sufficient evidence. In other jurisdictions, the Public Prosecutor's Office has more freedom to decide whether a case should move forward.
The Lajes base, located in the Azores archipelago, in the Atlantic, is a strategic transit point for American forces, under a 1951 bilateral defense treaty. The site houses the 65th Air Base Wing of the US Air Force and supports American, NATO and allied operations.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The PGR will conduct due diligence to assess the authorization's compliance with the 1951 treaty.
Very likely · Within months

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