Costa reiterates readiness to intervene in NATO’s rapid reaction force
The prime minister said Thursday that Portugal has strength but “in a state of readiness” for NATO’s rapid reaction force, hoping that its need is not necessary, because its need for reinforcement is not necessary.
Speaking to journalists on arrival at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, António Costa reiterated that Portugal has a five-day readiness force – which, in total, makes up a group of 1049 military personnel – to attend as part of the NATO’s rapid reaction.
However, he exclusively underlined that his committed backing is “a decision that rests” with the Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, US General Tod D. Wolters.
“As they are under your orders of forces, these forces that are integrated in the rapid reaction force are under your orders, and they are in a state of readiness for five days to be able to address you, and when, the NATO military commander for Europe so understand“, he stressed.
António Costa stressed, however, that he hopes that this “is not necessary”, because “it would be a sign” that NATO would need to “strengthen the message of deterrence and make it clear that it is an alliance”.
The prime minister noted that, within the scope of the Alliance, Portugal has reinforced its participation “in the set of NATO ministers”.
“As is known, in addition to the forces that we have in a state of readiness in the event of a NATO rapid intervention force, we have to start with a quick – and it’s already on the ground – company that will reinforce the permanent combat battalions who are based in Romania,” he said.
In addition, Costa also helped to help Ukraine in the United Kingdom (EU), through “all as a European framework” and which helped to make the NATO Union have a “heavy effect” on the Portuguese economy.
“We have been [também] to provide humanitarian and material support – namely military – on the basis of the bilateral relationship with Ukraine itself”, he underlined.
Flanked by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, and by the Minister of National Defense, João Gomes Cravinho – who, in the next Government, will assume a current portfolio of Santos Silva -, António Costa was asked if the change will change our policy. Portuguese external
In his response, the prime minister said that “Portuguese foreign policy has been based on a constant, for several decades, and is a factor of great national unity”.
“With respect to all the members of the government, and for each of them, there has been a permanent government, which I register in terms of foreign policy, there has only been a small interrere, which has been going on for two decades, in which there has not been a continuity of our policy and a national consensus in bygone times”, he said.