Portugal prepared to maintain and reinforce military in Eastern Europe
The prime minister said Thursday that Portugal is prepared to maintain its military missions in eastern Europe in a scenario of prolonging the war in Ukraine and even the ability to strengthen its national presence.
This press release was released by António Costa at a joint position conference with the Romanian prime minister, Nicola Ciucâ, in Bucharest, after the defense ministers of the two countries signed a cooperation agreement that deepens and revises a previous agreement from 1995 .
Asked if Portugal admits to prolonging its military missions in Eastern Europe, in case Ukraine is extended, the leader of the Portuguese executive replied: “We are at the orders of the European NATO command.”
“Whether it is necessary and necessary to fulfill the European command of NATO, we will not only be able to force in new forces, but also to reinforce in new forces, as well as to reinforce in new forces, and in a state of readiness more force to commit, if necessary. the determination of the European command of NATO”, indicated the prime minister.
In his response, António Costa gave an example and said that the national military contingent, aged 222, is only at the base in Caracal, with data expected to arrive in the first half of this year.
“But he went to visit the anticipated set in order to anticipate the presence of NATO’s capacity in Romania and the east”, he added, referring to the Portuguese military contingent that will be accompanied by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of Romania this afternoon. .
In front of journalists, the Portuguese prime minister highlighted the common work experience of the two countries’ military commands, covering the training of officers from different branches of the armed forces to “facilitate mutual knowledge and the ability to act together”.
“At this time, Portugal has been engaged in forces that have been deployed by the NATO command to Romania, we have more forces in a state of resolution readiness readiness that can be called in according to the instructions of the European army with the instructions of the NATO command “.
At the press conference, a Romanian journalist asked António Costa for more time as Portuguese troops will remain in Romania.
“We are not sets chosen as missions that are reliable, but, naturally, as missions that are entrusted to us in Romania the benefit of having a prerequisite and of countries that has been developed by the two countries. no performance of this mission”, replied the Portuguese Prime Minister.
At this point, António Costa took the opportunity to say that he notes “with satisfaction that the Romanian Government has evaluated the contribution made by the Portuguese Armed Forces”.
“We are at the orders of NATO’s European command to carry out the missions entrusted to us, from the outset here in command in Romania”, he added.