Azores ‘critically important’ to NATO, US ambassador says

The American ambassador to Portugal, Randi Charno Levine, said the Azores are of “critical importance” to NATO on Monday.

The ambassador, who was speaking at a conference organised by Azorean newspaper Açoriano Oriental, highlighted the US government’s investment of $23 million in Lajes Base on the Azorean island Terceira, which she said was the “highest (annual investment) since 2006.”

“It’s very clear that from a security point of view, the Azores have been and will continue to be of strategic importance,” she said.

Speaking to the history of the Azores, she added that “Lajes has been responsible for everything from supporting local communities after earthquakes to supporting operations such as in Afghanistan and Iraq” and now “plays an important role in the conflict in the Middle East.” We’ve all learned over the years that the Azores and Terceira are of critical importance to national security and to NATO,” she continued.

Terceira houses Lajes Base, home to a unit of the US Air Force. According to the Air Force website, “the wing provides base and en route support for the Department of Defence, allied nations and other authorised aircraft in transit.”

The event was also attended by the vice-president of the Azores regional government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), Artur Lima, and the US consul in the Azores archipelago, Margaret Campbell.

Charno Levine was appointed ambassador to Portugal in November 2021 by Joe Biden’s administration and took up her duties in April 2022, after her appointment was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.

(Rui Paiva | Lusa.pt)

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