“Many possible options” for Lajes air base future – US Ambassador Katz
24/7/2010

The ongoing reappraisal of the US Air Force F-35 fighter programme means “other options” will have to be considered for the Lajes air base (Azores), US Ambassador to Lisbon Allan Katz told Lusa News Agency during a visit to the Portuguese-American community in Newark (New Jersey).

“I think there’s an ongoing reappraisal of many US [military] programs, and [the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter] is one of them”, Ambassador Katz said.

Employing the Lajes air base as a training centre for the F-35 programme had been considered, but budgetary constraints will rule out that possibility.

The Portuguese-American caucus in the US Congress had lobbied for moving Africom (the US military command for Africa) to Lajes, but that too has been ruled out.

Katz noted that Lajes “remains an important strategic location for the US”, especially as long as American forces are deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Since Portugal is such a close and important ally, we’re trying to look beyond Afghanistan and Iraq, to try and find things that make Lajes as vital and active as it is today”, Katz added. “There are many possible options.”

Portuguese analyst Miguel Monjardino recently told Lusa that, according to a Pentagon report, the Lajes air base is considered low priority.

“The report divides [US] bases into four levels, and currently Lajes is at level three, somewhat low in terms of strategic value”, Monjardino said. “In terms of US logistic needs until 2025, the report forecasts that Lajes may drop to the lowest level, a facility that only ensures expeditionary mobility.”

TPN/Lusa

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