“The task is determined, but we are aiming for about twenty military personnel, who are trained, who will be able to participate in training activities in the areas where our capabilities have been determined, as requested by Ukraine,” Helena Carreras, who was heard in Parliament, said in my committee Budget, Finance and National Defense, on the State Budget for 2023.
The Minister stressed that the support provided by Portugal to Ukraine has already exceeded 315 tons of lethal and non-lethal military materials, and this is being done “strictly” and “solidarity” within the limits of their availability in the country.
Francisco Cesar, deputy head of the PS office, praised the government’s proposal for the 2023 budget in the field of defense and questioned the minister, among other topics, about the Portuguese presence on the eastern side at the time of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
“Not only do we maintain the intention to continue with our forces in the ongoing missions, but there may be occasional adjustments in the sense of strengthening, for example, the missions of the air police as we have already done in Lithuania or Iceland, and Helena Carreras answered this force that we have in Romania.”
He added that it would be a reinforcement to be adjusted according to “NATO requests regarding the new force model” that is “being designed”.
However, Helena Carreras stressed that Portugal, along with other allies, continues to have a “360-degree view” of defense and concerns “to the south”, particularly in Africa, the Sahel and the Mediterranean.
“There will be news by the end of the year about the new outlook for next year,” he said.
Pedro Pisanha, of Chega, questioned the minister about the government’s goals regarding the value to be achieved in GDP. [Produto Interno Bruto] in military spending, with mention of the 2% that NATO requested from Allies.
“We’re committed to achieving 2% by the end of the decade, it was the commitment that the Prime Minister made and that’s the realistic commitment that we’ve made, in addition to this financial commitment, there are commitments in two other areas” capabilities and contributions to the forces, in the missions, that we think should be seen together Helena Carreras stated, adding that there are other allies who share this vision.
Emphasizing the government’s continued commitment expected to reach 1.66% of GDP in defense in 2023, the minister emphasized: “We will achieve it.”
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