Portuguese assistance to Ukraine will go above 220 million in 2024

This year, Portuguese assistance to Ukraine will be more than 220 million euros, announced Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro in the US capital, where he is attending the 2024 NATO Summit, marking 75 years of the Alliance. The same amount will be allocated in 2025.

Luís Montenegro also said he undertook the commitment to present at the summit a plan for Portugal to reach 2% of GDP in defence and security and investment in 2029, representing an amount of 6 billion euros.

The commitment was undertaken "in a letter I sent to the NATO Secretary-General stating that reaching the target of 2% of our budget in defence will happen one year ahead of schedule, in 2029", he said.

In this security and defence investment "a large-scale financial contribution in his international coalition is also contemplated, in military, humanitarian, political, and economic assistance to Ukraine", he added.

Investment in defence "is an effort with a return in economic activity that can be generated", he claimed.

This investment "will be centred on technology", knowledge of materials, and equipment. "We have for instance, in terms of drones and unmanned vehicles highly significant competitiveness and then we have other related materials, for instance, our textile industry, which is highly competitive for many of the equipment the military needs", he stated.

Investment in careers

The Prime Minister also stated there will be a rise in investment "in human capital recruitment and retention and enhancing the military career".

"We will also require investment in equipping our armed forces with the equipment et in the Military Programming Law", he said, indicating the approval in the Council of Minister of 4 July of a resolution that authorises the start of technical and negotiation discussions for the possible acquisition of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.

Luís Montenegro is travelling with the Ministers of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel and of National Defence Nuno Melo.