The Portuguese Navy’s Chief of Staff, Admiral Gouveia e Melo, believes that “the concentration of almost the entire Navy squadron in a single base is limiting its response capacity” and advocates a concept based on six “bases,” one of which would be in Praia da Vitória.

At the Congress of the Association of Auditors of National Defence Courses 2024, which took place on Tuesday with the theme “Security and Defence in Europe: Challenges,” Gouveia e Melo, quoted by Agência Lusa, said the goal is to optimize the Lisbon Naval Base, the Portimão naval support point, and the Troia naval support point.

Three new infrastructures would be created, a naval base in Praia da Vitória and naval support points in Funchal and Viana do Castelo.

At the same event was the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General João Cartaxo Alves, who wants a “5.3 Air Force” by 2030 and advocates the acquisition of F-35 aircraft and an increase in P-3C aircraft, from the current five to eleven.

In December last year, Gouveia e Melo said that he would propose to the Government of the Republic the purchase of two more submarines. He also intended to modernize two frigates within three years and obtain two refueling ships.

At the end of the month, a contract was signed for the acquisition of six Ocean Patrol Vessels. These vessels should be in service by 2031 and already have anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

“We are in a crucial area for logistical movements between the Americas and Europe, which is crucial for NATO’s logistical movement. Suppose we Portuguese, who have the Azores, don’t actively participate in the protection of these maritime lines of communication, whether they are for data, cargo or people. In that case, we are somehow diminishing our strategic value within the coalition itself,” he said.

Meanwhile, as DI has already reported, Lajes Base has once again received US search and hunt missions to patrol for the presence of Russian submarines in the Atlantic.

Tuesday’s panel included the military chiefs of the three branches of the Armed Forces and the Secretary of State for National Defense, Ana Isabel Xavier.

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces announced a working group to assess how 2% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) can be channeled into Defense by 2029.

“The goal of 2% of GDP for Defense is something that is moving us right now. We’re going to set up a joint working group where we’re going to analyze where to go by 2029, absorbing and increasing the amounts for National Defense and the Armed Forces,” said General Nunes da Fonseca.

“Don’t forget also, and contributing to the 2%, the National Deployed Forces – more missions on behalf of NATO, the European Union and the UN contribute to the 2% in Defence and military support in civil emergencies, investment in equipment, specialized people, etc. All of this attracting people to the Armed Forces, valuing military careers, attracting young people to serve with us,” she added.

In the view of the Secretary of State for National Defense, Ana Isabel Xavier, the increases in salaries and supplements for the military, decided by the government, are already making it possible to “reverse” the downward trend in personnel.

The statements made by the military leaders come at a time when the global situation is changing. Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened up the possibility of using nuclear weapons after the United States authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles on targets in Russia, which signals an escalation of the conflict.

in Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADE.