Portugal Drawn Into Middle East Crisis as Lajes Air Base Supports US Strike on Iran

Portugal finds itself at the centre of an escalating geopolitical crisis after it emerged that the Lajes Air Base in the Azores played a logistical role in the United States' joint military operation with Israel against Iran, codenamed "Epic Fury."

Five KC-46 Pegasus aerial refuelling aircraft took off from the base on the island of Terceira on Saturday, part of a fleet of fifteen American military planes that had been stationed there for over a week. The aircraft, capable of refuelling fighter jets mid-flight, had been quietly building up at the NATO facility in the days leading up to what would become one of the most significant military operations in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The revelation has ignited a fierce political debate in Lisbon. Portugal's Foreign Minister had previously acknowledged that the United States could use Lajes for military operations against Iran without formally notifying the Portuguese government — a statement that now carries considerably more weight. Tomé Ribeiro Gomes, a professor of international relations at the Universidade da Beira Interior, warned that Portugal risks being seen as complicit: "Portugal may end up on the side of those aggressing international law."

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declined to comment on the attacks on Saturday evening, deferring to the government for an official position. The government's statement, when it came, focused on condemning Iran's retaliatory strikes on neighbouring countries as "unjustifiable" — a framing that drew criticism from the left. The Bloco de Esquerda condemned the US-Israeli offensive as an "odious attack" and demanded the government take a firmer stance. Chega, by contrast, expressed support for the operation's objectives.

For the thousands of Portuguese nationals living and working across the Gulf states, the fallout has been immediate and deeply personal. Iranian retaliation struck airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, killing one person and injuring eleven. A Lisbon-bound Etihad Airways flight operated by Hi Fly was forced to turn back mid-route, and Emirates cancelled its Dubai service from the Portuguese capital. Thousands of travellers remain stranded as airports across the region suspended operations.

The Lajes question is not merely academic. The base's use in American military operations abroad has long been a sensitive issue in Portuguese politics, touching on sovereignty, NATO obligations, and Portugal's self-image as a nation that favours diplomacy over force. As the crisis deepens and oil markets react — analysts warn of significant supply disruptions and a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz — the economic consequences for Portugal could be substantial, from rising fuel prices to broader inflationary pressure on an economy still finding its footing.

Parliament is expected to debate the matter this week, with opposition parties already calling for full transparency on what the government knew and when.