The US nuclear submarine USS Michigan was in Praia da Vitória over the weekend, apparently to change crew and resupply. The operation, which took place outside the port, involved Portuguese Maritime Police vessels and a civilian vessel believed to have delivered the supplies.

This submarine usually operates in the Pacific. It was a submarine of the same class that fired dozens of missiles at Iranian facilities believed to be nuclear.

The USS Michigan is known to be regularly involved in secret missions involving drones, mini-submarines, and special forces.

According to what is known, this submarine, although nuclear-powered, does not carry atomic missiles, but Tomahawk cruise missiles and torpedoes.

It has a displacement of about seventeen tons, is 170 meters long, and has more than 150 crew members.

According to unofficial sources, this submarine is likely to remain on mission in the Atlantic for about a month.

Given Russia’s naval expansion in the Atlantic, it is likely, as already argued by several experts, that Portugal will establish an air and naval base in Terceira, possibly in conjunction with the US. Protecting equipment and infrastructure will be the main mission.

In Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director

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