Defence

Politics

Nuno Melo Joins the Brussels NATO Defence Ministerial Ahead of the Hague Summit — €6.12 Billion 2025 Spend Lands the 2% GDP Bar Four Years Early as the €5.8 Billion SAFE Loan Application Frames the Frigate-Armour-Satellite-Drone Stack to 2030

Defence Minister Nuno Melo lands in Brussels for the 18 June NATO Defence Ministerial with Portugal's 2025 spending at €6.12 billion (2% of GDP) — four years ahead of schedule — and a €5.8 billion SAFE-loan file covering frigates, armour, satellites and drones through 2030.

18 June 2026

News

Portugal's 2013 Conceito Estratégico de Defesa Nacional Still Brands Russia a 'Strategic Partner' — Government Drags on the Revision Three Years Into the Ukraine War

Portugal's foundational national-defence document, the 2013 Conceito Estratégico de Defesa Nacional (National Defence Strategic Concept), still describes Russia as a country with which Portugal must "deepen relations" as a "strategic partner," and...

14 June 2026

News

Portugal's Defence-Spending Architecture Squares Off Against The Hague Summit's 5%-of-GDP Push — How the LPM 2024-2033, the Pacote Defesa Envelope and the OE2027 Cativações Carve-Out Triangulate

With NATO's 24-26 June Hague summit pressing allies toward a 5%-of-GDP defence-spending pledge, Portugal's posture sits inside the LPM 2024-2033 envelope, the OE2027 cativações carve-out and Nuno Melo's repeated rejection of a separate European army track.

14 June 2026

News

Assembleia da República Spurns PCP and Bloco de Esquerda Lajes Inquiry Proposals on 3 June — PSD, Chega, PS, IL and CDS Block Formal Probe of US Base Use During Iran Operations

Parliament rejected on 3 June PCP and Bloco de Esquerda proposals for a formal inquiry into the Government's authorisation of US use of the Lajes airbase during the Iran operation — PSD, Chega, PS, Iniciativa Liberal and CDS all voted against, leaving political scrutiny to the standing committee.

9 June 2026

News

Lisbon Criminal Court Convenes Tempestade Perfeita Defence-Procurement Mega-Trial With 73 Arguidos on 9 June — 43 Individuals, 30 Companies and Three Former DGRDN Directors Run Through 25 November 2026

The Tempestade Perfeita defence-procurement corruption trial opens at Lisbon's Tribunal Central Criminal on 9 June 2026 with 73 arguidos — 43 individuals and 30 companies — running through 25 November on corruption, embezzlement and money-laundering charges centred on the DGRDN.

9 June 2026

social-crosspost

Nuno Melo Doubles Down Against the European Army in Sunday JN/TSF Interview — Defence Minister Anchors Portuguese Posture in NATO as Madrid Lobbies for a Continental Force

Defence Minister Nuno Melo used a Sunday Jornal de Notícias and TSF interview to reject a European army and reaffirm NATO as Portugal's primary defensive frame — Spain's push for a continental force has now been publicly dismissed by Brussels' top diplomat as well.

7 June 2026

social-crosspost

Tekever Doubles Its French Investment to €200 Million Over Five Years at Choose France 2026 — Cahors Excellence Centre Hits Summer Opening as 200 Skilled Jobs Land Across Occitânia and Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Portuguese drone unicorn Tekever doubles its France investment to €200 million over five years at the Choose France 2026 summit in Versailles — adding 200 highly skilled jobs across Occitânia and Nouvelle-Aquitaine and bringing the Cahors industrial centre online this summer.

3 June 2026