Commenting on letters the USA sent to various NATO partners demanding an increase in military spending, George Glass said that “Portugal was not on the list and did not receive this letter”.

NATO, pressured by the USA, is demanding that the partners spend at least 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on common defence.

The US ambassador said, however, that “Portugal assured a commitment of 2%” and, at this moment, “this is what the USA wants: the commitment”.

Now, this promise will have to be enforced under the scope of the Portuguese military spending law, the ambassador said, praising the partnership with Portugal in the defence area, giving the example of the Lajes base in the Azores.

“Lajes is a success story”, there are works in progress to resolve environmental problems and the objective now is to increase the type of US military presence, with two-year tours that let the forces take their families with them and help the local economy.

It is a “strategic operational base with a new military centre”, Ambassador Glass said, stressing that the personnel reduction process “is complete”.