US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Portuguese prosecutors have opened a probe into the legality of the center-right government’s decision to authorize the United States military’s use of Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the conflict with Iran. The investigation, announced by the Prosecutor General’s Office on October 3, 2026, stems from a formal complaint filed in April by members of the opposition Left Bloc party.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Details of the Probe
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The Legal Context: Under a longstanding bilateral defense treaty dating back to 1951, Washington can use the strategic transit hub without prior authorization during peacetime. However, Portuguese law mandates that the government must explicitly grant approval once formal hostilities begin.
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The Controversy: Unlike neighboring Spain, Portugal’s government permitted several U.S. military transit flights through Lajes Air Base after the conflict started. This decision drew heavy domestic criticism from left-wing parties, sparking intense debate over Lisbon’s role in the war.
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The Complaint: Representatives from the Left Bloc argue that authorizing these transit flights amounts to a “gross violation of international law” and Portuguese domestic law.
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Prosecutorial Mandate: In Portugal, prosecutors operate under the “principle of legality,” legally requiring them to investigate potential wrongdoing whenever there are sufficient grounds, leaving them less discretion to dismiss high-profile political cases compared to other jurisdictions.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Government Response
Portugal’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the active probe. However, Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel previously defended the decision, asserting that the country is not participating in the war and that the authorization strictly complied with international law. According to Rangel, Washington provided explicit assurances that any operations utilizing the base would be defensive, necessary, proportionate, and strictly limited to military targets.
The Lajes Air Base serves as a vital Atlantic staging ground and hosts the 65th Air Base Wing of the U.S. Air Force, supporting U.S., NATO, and allied military operations.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Core Legal Disputes
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Peacetime vs. Wartime Rules: The core of the legal inquiry hinges on the Agreement on Cooperation and Defense (first signed in 1951 and updated in 1995). While the treaty permits the U.S. to utilize the base without advance permission during peacetime, legal experts and opposition figures point out that prior authorization is strictly mandatory once active hostilities begin.
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The “Gross Violation” Argument: The Left Bloc, led by coordinator José Manuel Pureza, argued that the government either actively supported a “gross violation of International Law and Portuguese Law” or lacked the “political backbone” to stand up to Washington. They assert that allowing aggressive military transit breaches Portugal’s constitutional commitment to international law.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Operational Scope of the U.S. Presence
Human rights groups and political monitors have noted a massive buildup at the base located on Terceira Island in the Azores. According to public figures released regarding the conflict:
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The Portuguese government authorized at least 76 landings of U.S. aircraft at Lajes and 25 overflights of national airspace.
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Reports suggest that the U.S. stationed 12 refueling aircraft (such as KC-135 tankers) at the base, which were allegedly used to support American bomber operations targeting Iran.
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Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel defended the clearance of these refueling assets by arguing they are classified as “defensive” rather than “offensive” air assets, thereby fitting within the legal allowances the government negotiated.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Diplomatic Friction & Allied Responses
The issue has created noticeable waves within the NATO alliance:
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The Spanish Contrast: Neighboring Spain aggressively restricted or denied the U.S. military the use of its airspace and bases for the conflict. This refusal prompted public pushback from U.S. officials like Senator Marco Rubio, who openly questioned the value of the alliance with Spain while praising Portugal for saying “yes” swiftly.
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Domestic Backlash: International groups, including Amnesty International Portugal, launched petitions urging Lisbon to completely halt military support that could facilitate war crimes or target civilian infrastructure, keeping pressure high on both the government and the ongoing prosecutorial probe.
The probe will determine whether the government acted within its constitutional bounds or if the authorization overstepped the limits of the 1951 bilateral defense treaty during a time of war.
