Azores warn that they have been losing “fair compensation” for the use of the Lajes base

Chega/Açores wants “real counterparts” for the use of the Lajes Base

Chega/Açores defended this Wednesday that it is necessary to “guarantee real compensation” for the region for the use of the Lajes Base by the United States, in a debate in which the parties disagreed on the moment to review the bilateral agreement.

“What Chega/Açores defends is simple: clarity is needed about the future of the Lajes Base, it is necessary to guarantee real compensation for the Azores and it is necessary to fully take advantage of the logistical potential of the existing infrastructure”said José Pacheco, in the plenary session of the Regional Assembly, in Horta, in an urgent debate requested by the party on the “strategic assessment” of the Lajes Base.

The deputy recalled that the “Azores have already proven their strategic value many times”, considering “now is the time” to “guarantee that this value also translates into development for the Azoreans”.

“The Azores also have to be strategic for the Azoreans, because what we cannot accept is that the Azores are strategic for the world, but remain peripheral in the decisions that affect them”he emphasized.

The leader of Chega nos Açores also considered that “this is the time” to “start the review” of the Bilateral Cooperation and Defense Agreement between Portugal and the United States, a position that drew disagreement from the vice-president of the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), who said the review in the current international context was “imprudent”.

In the debate, liberal Nuno Barata also argued that it was “time for the region to put its foot down and sit at the table with Lisbon” to promote the review of the agreement.

“It is at the moment when external actors look at our geography as geostrategic that we have to affirm this importance”signaled the IL parliamentarian.

António Lima (BE) considered a renegotiation of the agreement as “unpatriotic” and reiterated that “maintaining a foreign military force” in Azorean territory is a “mistake”.

The PPM, through deputy João Mendonça, warned, regarding the review of the agreement, that “those who negotiate amidst the noise risk negotiating poorly”.

For the CDS-PP, Pedro Pinto defended the importance of the Azores having a “strong and cooperative voice”, arguing that when the region has “decision-making capacity, problems are resolved”.

Pedro Neves (PAN) criticized the Azores Government’s attitude of “complacency and silence” in order to “not displease” the United States during the American attack on Iran.

At the end of the session, the president of the Regional Assembly, having no more registrations and after a period of waiting, gave the floor to José Pacheco to conclude the debate, having subsequently shown his intention to give the floor to PS deputy Vasco Cordeiro.

However, faced with José Pacheco’s threat to leave the room in protest, Luís Garcia ended up allowing Chega to end the debate, which ended up not counting on interventions from PS and PSD.