Portugal’s U.S. air base access has come under scrutiny after Lisbon confirmed it authorised dozens of U.S. aircraft landings at Lajes Air Base in the Azores and multiple overflights since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel told a parliamentary hearing that Portugal approved 76 landings and 25 overflights, but only on the condition that the aircraft were not used to bomb civilian infrastructure. He said the United States complied with that requirement, although Portugal also refused some landing requests.
Rangel said Portugal opposes any attack on civilian infrastructure and made that position a clear condition for use of the Lajes air base.
He explained that Lisbon can authorise the base for military action when an attack targets the United States, provided any response remains necessary, proportional, and avoids civilian targets.
Portugal says it handled requests transparently
Rangel said the Portuguese government has tried to act openly throughout the conflict. He stressed that Lisbon publicly states when it authorises U.S. aircraft transits, leaving other European governments to make their own decisions.
He also repeated that Portugal supports a diplomatic solution to the Iran conflict, even as it continues security cooperation with Washington through NATO.
Spain, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland have restricted or denied U.S. military aircraft access to their airspace or bases in connection with the war in Iran.
That contrast places Portugal in a more visible position inside Europe, especially as the Lajes base remains a strategic hub for U.S., NATO and allied operations in the Atlantic.
Lajes Air Base hosts the 65th Air Base Wing of the U.S. Air Force and serves as a major support point for U.S. and allied operations.
Its location in the Azores gives it long-standing strategic value for transatlantic military logistics, which helps explain why access to the base has become politically sensitive during the Iran conflict.
