Base das Lajes was one of the themes of the Portugal / USA – Observer bilateral commission meeting
The development of bilateral cooperation in the Azores, taking into account the strategic importance of the Lajes Base, was one of the topics discussed at the Meeting of the Permanent Bilateral Commission between Portugal and the United States held on Friday.
According to the joint declaration of this meeting held in Lisbon and published on the Diplomatic Portal, “it was clear the excellent moment of the bilateral relationship, as a result of an intense political dialogue at the most diverse levels and the density of the bilateral agenda that contemplates a vast and robust set of Domains “
In this CBP session – mentions the declaration – it was possible to continue the expansion path of the bilateral cooperation areas usually addressed, “discussing and consolidating a set of new domains and projects, namely in energy, science, space, environment, oceans, with an emphasis on its connection to the climate and combating climate change.
The themes of energy security and green energy also deserved “special attention” during this CBP session.
“The parties signaled the great importance of the transatlantic link and the current convergence of agenda and goals between the two sides of the Atlantic. The strategic importance of the transatlantic relationship in terms of security and defense was also unveiled, with emphasis on the preparation of the NATO Summit in Madrid and the NATO-EU relationship”, said the joint statement.
At the CBP meeting, there was no opportunity for a presentation of the Atlantic Center’s script, that is, a platform for political dialogue and research in matters of security and defense in the Atlantic.
Issues on the international agenda were also imposed, with an exchange of views on the situation in Latin America, Africa, Indo-Pacific, as well as the growing tension surrounding the situation in Ukraine.
The two countries’ commitment to multilateralism was reiterated at the meeting, with the Portuguese side presenting the United Nations Conference on the Oceans, to be held in Lisbon, from June 27 to July 1, 2022.
CBP also discussed the development of bilateral cooperation in the Azores, reiterating the strategic importance of the Lajes Base in the context of relations between the two countries.
“Portugal and the United States registered the existence of problems in environmental issues related to the Base’s activity. CBP also recognized the potential of cooperation with the Azores in other areas”, indicates the joint declaration.
The meeting was chaired jointly by the Director-General for Foreign Policy, Ambassador Rui Vinhas, and the Representative of the US Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Molly Montgomery, and included the ambassador of Portugal to the US, Domingos Fezas Vital, the person in charge of US business in Portugal, Kristin Kane, the vice president of the Regional Government of the Azores, Artur Lima, the Director General of National Defense Policy, Paulo Lourenço, and representatives of the Atlantic Center, among others.