Key facts
- Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro stated the US use of Lajes Air Base was legal.
- Prosecutors opened an inquiry into the government's authorization of the base's use.
- The inquiry was triggered by a complaint from a leftist opposition party.
- Several European nations have restricted US military aircraft access in connection with the Iran conflict.
- The Portuguese government stated that operations would be defensive, necessary, proportionate, and limited to military targets.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro argued on Friday that the US use of the Lajes Air Base during the Iran conflict was fully legal and urged the judiciary not to make political judgments. The comments came after prosecutors opened an inquiry last week into the government's authorization for the base's use, a move triggered by a complaint from a leftist opposition party.
Several European nations have imposed restrictions on US military aircraft access in connection with the conflict, including Spain, France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. The Portuguese government has stated that Portugal was not involved in the conflict and that the use of Lajes base complied with international law, having received assurances from Washington that any operation would be defensive, necessary, proportionate, and limited to military targets.