“Lajes has always been very important as part of the strategic relationship between the United States and Portugal, not only for military operations, as has been the news now”, declared Douglas A. Koneff.

The US diplomat was speaking in Ponta Delgada, on the sidelines of an initiative by FLAD-Luso-American Foundation for Development, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, in partnership with the Government of the Azores.

Douglas A. Koneff pointed out humanitarian assistance and rescue flights as other reasons for using the Lajes base, and the collaboration with the military has been going on “for many years and will continue.”

Asked about the importance of the Lajes base in the recent US military intervention in Iran, Douglas A. Koneff stated that he could not “go into details about specific military operations,” but said that this infrastructure in the Azores “has been of extreme importance to both countries.”

The chargé d'Affaires did not say whether or not the United States would close the consulate in Ponta Delgada, the oldest in the world, since the process of reviewing the consular and embassy structure has not yet been completed, and is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.

The Portuguese ambassador to Washington, Francisco Duarte Lopes, also told journalists that “the indications given to the government so far through the US embassy in Lisbon are that there are no plans to close any diplomatic mission in Portugal, including the consulate in Ponta Delgada.”

The United States and Portugal have a bilateral defense and cooperation agreement that includes the granting of military facilities at the Lajes base.