The changing geopolitical landscape of the North Atlantic is creating new opportunities for the Azores to redefine their place on the world stage. That was the central message delivered by Azorean President José Manuel Bolieiro, who argued that the archipelago should no longer be viewed as Europe’s remote western frontier but as one of its most valuable strategic assets.
Speaking in Lisbon at the seminar “The New Centrality of the Azores: A Strategic-Military Perspective,” organized by the Military University Institute, Bolieiro outlined a vision that places the islands at the heart of Portugal’s future security, innovation, and economic development.
“The Azores have ceased to be perceived as a periphery,” he said. “They are now recognized as an Atlantic center of gravity, essential to the security and resilience of Europe and the transatlantic community.”
According to Bolieiro, today’s international environment—shaped by armed conflicts, heightened geopolitical tensions, and growing concerns over critical infrastructure—has dramatically increased the strategic value of the North Atlantic. As global attention shifts toward protecting maritime routes, energy corridors, digital communications, and supply chains, the Azores occupy a uniquely important position at the crossroads of Europe, North America, and Africa.
The Regional President argued that the archipelago’s geographic location should become a competitive advantage, benefiting not only the islands themselves but also Portugal, the European Union, and NATO.
“Our objective is to position the Azores as a strategic platform for Portugal, combining defense, innovation, resilience, and economic development,” Bolieiro said. “We want our geographic location to become a competitive advantage for both the Region and the country.”
Central to that strategy is the development of dual-use infrastructure—facilities capable of serving both civilian and military purposes while promoting technological innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Among the strategic assets highlighted by Bolieiro were Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island, long recognized as one of the Atlantic’s most important military installations; the NATO pier in Ponta Delgada; the planned Free Technology Zone in Horta; and Santa Maria’s emerging spaceport, which reflects the Azores’ growing role in the expanding space economy.
Beyond its location, the President emphasized the Region’s increasing responsibilities in safeguarding nearly one million square kilometers of Portugal’s Exclusive Economic Zone, monitoring critical submarine communication cables that carry significant portions of transatlantic digital traffic, and protecting vital maritime infrastructure across the North Atlantic.
For Bolieiro, these responsibilities demand investments that strengthen both regional resilience and international cooperation.
“Our geographic position must translate into greater security, greater resilience, and a stronger future,” he declared. “We want the Azores to be recognized as an advanced platform for dual-use capabilities and as a reference territory for policies that combine maritime security, technological innovation, the sustainable blue economy, and territorial cohesion.”
His remarks reflect a broader effort by the Regional Government to frame the Azores not simply as an autonomous archipelago with strategic importance, but as an indispensable Atlantic partner capable of contributing to Europe’s evolving security architecture while simultaneously attracting investment in advanced technologies, aerospace, marine research, and innovation.
As global attention increasingly turns toward the Atlantic once again, Bolieiro argued that geography alone is no longer enough. The challenge now is transforming the Azores’ unique location into lasting opportunities—building infrastructure, expanding technological capacity, strengthening international partnerships, and ensuring that the islands become not merely a waypoint between continents, but a dynamic center of strategic cooperation in the twenty-first century.
Based on a story published in Diário Insular-José Lourenço-director. Photo from DI.
