On that day, 11 KC-46 Pegasus tankers, 12 F-16 Viper fighter jets, and a C-17 Globemaster III military cargo plane were stationed at Lajes Air Base.

The Lusa news agency contacted the US State Department and the US Department of Defense for clarification on these movements at Lajes.

"The US European Command regularly receives US aircraft and military personnel in transit, in accordance with access, base, and overflight agreements entered into with allies and partners," the Pentagon (Department of Defence) said in a brief written message.

"Taking into account the operational security of US assets and personnel, it is not possible to disclose further details at this time," he added.

Unannounced attacks

The Foreign Minister admitted that the United States could use Lajes Air Base for a military operation against Iran without notifying Portugal, but stressed that the government defends the path of peace.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers in Brussels, Paulo Rangel was asked whether Portugal had formally authorised the use of Lajes Air Base in the context of a possible US military action against Iran.

In his response, the Foreign Minister stressed that "the use of Lajes Air Base by the United States has been done exclusively, and as it must be, in accordance with the treaty that exists between the two countries."

"It only relates to overflight, parking, and possibly aircraft stopovers, and this has been authorised under the general terms of the agreement," he stated, recalling that this agreement provides for "tacit authorisations, which are given within a relatively short period."

Rangel admitted that, in recent weeks, the use of these tacit authorisations has been "greater than usual," but stressed that this has already happened "more than once" since he took office as Minister of Foreign Affairs in April 2024.

"There is no framework that is not the general framework. And therefore, any other operation does not have to be authorised, known, or communicated by Portugal. It never has been, and it wasn't going to be now," he stated.

Asked if this means that the United States, under this treaty, can use the Lajes Air Base for an operation in Iran without Portugal's knowledge, Paulo Rangel replied: "Exactly, that's true."

"They can, for any operation, use it without Portugal having to know. That's how it is in the treaties, and that's how it's happening with all European bases, from the most varied countries," he said.

Portugal's Position

Asked whether Portugal sees no problem with the United States using the Lajes Air Base for an operation against Iran, the Minister replied that "Portugal has made a systematic appeal, also on the issue of Iran, for issues and differences to be resolved through peace."

"That has been Portugal's position and continues to be," he said.