The Supreme Council of National Defense this Friday analyzed “Portugal’s support for Ukraine” and issued a positive opinion on “minor adjustments” to the Detached National Forces, the Republic’s presidency announced.
This information is contained in a note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic on the Internet following today’s meeting of this collegiate consultative body, in ordinary session, scheduled at 2:30 p.m.
The note states that the Supreme Council of National Defense, meeting under the chairmanship of the head of state, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, “analyzed Portugal’s support for Ukraine” and “unanimously issued a positive opinion on minor adjustments to the national armed forces”. Highlights”, without providing further details.
Under the Constitution, the Supreme Council of National Defense is a specific collegiate body, chaired by the President of the Republic, for consultation on matters related to national defense and the organization, operation and discipline of the armed forces.
This body consists of the Prime Minister, the Ministers of State and National Defence, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Finance and those responsible for industry, energy, transport and communications, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the Chiefs of the Navy , Army and Air Force.
The Supreme Council of National Defense also includes representatives of the Republic and Presidents of the Governments of the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira, the President of the National Defense Commission of the Assembly of the Republic and two more deputies elected to this body by a two-thirds majority.
According to the official website of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMGFA), Portugal currently has 24 active missions abroad, with 1,169 soldiers, 93 assets involved, a total of 12 countries.
On support to Ukraine, National Defense Minister Helena Carreiras said today at a ceremony at the National Defense Institute (IDN) in Lisbon that “the defense has coordinated the delivery of more than 712 tons of equipment to date”. to Ukraine, mainly military material”, adding that it is still “imminent to send about 270 tons of additional material, including ammunition and vehicles, making a total of more than 950 tons”.
On the day of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, February 24, 2022, the Supreme Council of National Defense convened urgently and issued a unanimous positive opinion on the eventual participation of Portuguese military assets in the NATO readiness forces and on the expectation to receive Portuguese soldiers send to Romania.
The Deployed National Forces Plan for 2022 already envisaged sending a contingent of Portuguese soldiers to Romania in the second half of that year, as happened in 2021, but the departure was brought forward due to the context of war between Ukraine and Russia.
The 1st Detached National Force, consisting of 222 Portuguese soldiers, left for Romania on April 15 last year.
On May 19, Prime Minister António Costa visited and spoke to 222 Portuguese soldiers at the military base of Caracal.
On December 20, the President of the Republic and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces traveled to the same base in Romania, where he visited the 212 Portuguese soldiers of the 2nd National Detached Force integrated into a NATO mission in that country bordering Ukraine.
Currently, according to the EMGFA, Portugal has 235 military personnel in Romania under the “NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activity”, which aims to participate in exercises and training activities “with similar units, in order to deepen the Atlantic Alliance’s ties to conflict situations. in Eastern Europe, reaffirm Allied cohesion and determination, and enhance NATO readiness”.
It also has four additional soldiers in another NATO mission, the Tailored Forward Presence, also in Romania, which aims to contribute to the “deterrence and defense of the Alliance on its southeastern flank, more directly for the benefit of Member States in that geographical area”. “.
Source: DN
