Portuguese prosecutors have opened an investigation into the legality of the centre-right government’s decision to authorise the United States to use the Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the conflict with Iran.
The probe followed a complaint by members of the opposition Left Bloc, who argued that the authorisation violated international law.
A longstanding defence agreement allows the United States to use the base without prior approval during peacetime but requires Portugal’s consent once hostilities begin.
Portugal authorised several US transit flights through Lajes, unlike neighbouring Spain. The decision drew criticism from left-wing opposition parties and sparked political debate over Lisbon’s involvement in operations linked to the conflict.
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In a statement, the Prosecutor General’s Office said the investigation was opened following a complaint filed by members of the Left Bloc, but provided no further details.
Portugal’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
The Left Bloc asked prosecutors in April to investigate the US use of the base, describing it as a “gross violation of international law”.
Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel has rejected that argument, saying Portugal was not involved in the conflict and that the use of the base complied with international law.
He said Lisbon authorised the flights only after receiving assurances from Washington that any operations would be defensive, necessary and proportionate, and limited to military targets.
Under Portugal’s principle of legality, prosecutors are required to investigate alleged wrongdoing when there are sufficient grounds to do so.
Lajes Air Base, located in Portugal’s Azores archipelago, is a strategic transit hub for US forces under a bilateral defence treaty dating back to 1951. It hosts the US Air Force’s 65th Air Base Wing and supports US, NATO and allied operations.
