Thousands in Portugal urge ban on US use of Lajes Air Base

More than 8,000 people have signed a petition submitted on Monday, March 30, by Portugal’s Left Bloc party, urging the government to ban the use of Lajes Air Base by the United States for military operations targeting Iran.

According to the party, cited by foreign media, the open letter — signed by around 8,500 people — was delivered to the official residence of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. It calls on the government to prohibit U.S. aircraft from using the base for strikes against Iran and to take concrete action beyond political statements.

“We have brought the government an open letter, signed by about 8,500 people, expressing indignation and demanding that the government condemn this conflict and, above all, take concrete action - not just rhetorically, but effectively - by prohibiting the use of the Lajes Air Base by U.S. aircraft for this purpose,” said Left Bloc coordinator José Manuel Pureza.

The letter also urges Portugal to follow Spain’s example by restricting flights linked to the attacks and denying the United States access to certain military facilities. The party accused the government of complicity, arguing that allowing the use of Lajes Air Base could contradict international law.

Pureza further cited a report by SIC stating that MQ-9 Reaper military drones—often referred to as “killer drones”—were scheduled to arrive at Lajes Air Base on Monday night.

“The fact that a significant number of U.S. drones are expected to land at the Lajes Air Base today for use in the conflict further aggravates the Portuguese government's complicity,” he said.

According to Portugal’s official Lusa news agency, the government granted “conditional authorisation” for the use of Lajes Air Base following the start of the attacks. The authorisation stipulates that the facility may only be used “in response to an attack, within a framework of defence or retaliation,” that any actions must be “necessary and proportionate,” and that targets must be “of a military nature.”

Speaking in parliament in mid-March, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said that, based on the information available to the government, U.S. use of the base “has complied with the conditions underlying the authorisation” granted by Portugal.

Since the start of U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran, multiple refuelling aircraft have been departing from Lajes Air Base on a near-daily basis to carry out aerial refuelling missions.

By Tamilla Hasanova