Portugal has formally applied to the European Defence loan facility SAFE (Security Action for Europe) to the sum of 5.8 billion euros and moved forward with a 280-million investment in rehabilitating Pandur armoured vehicles, the Minister of the Presidency announced following the Council of Ministers meeting.

The Minister explained these measures as part of a strategic effort to recover and update military capabilities, claiming that "these are pretty relevant decisions, starting with the application to the SAFE programme, which involves around 5.8 billion euros in equipment and capabilities for the Armed Forces and the 280-million investment in the Pandur fleet, essential vehicles that gain another two decades operating".

The Minister noted that the increase in investment also includes international undertakings, namely 15 million euros for the cooperation programme with Cape Verde and two million for "Grain from Ukraine", stressing that this is "a very large effort" to ensure fundamental resources for national defence and European contribution.

The process is part of meeting the targets pledged by Portugal under NATO, which envisage 2% of GDP in military expenditure this year and 5% by 2035.

Until the end of the month, the Government will send to Brussels a detailed plan of how the SAFE loans will be applied, which are meant to be implemented by 2030. The definition of priorities and the choice of equipment follow specific rules and will be presented by the Ministries of Defence and Finance.

Leitão Amaro also noted that several defence expenditures will not be included directly in the ministry’s budget, rather accounted for in the official reporting to NATO, including investment in dual use equipment, applicable to civil protection, health, or medical evacuation, ensuring that "there is no mystery" as to the transparency in allocating public resources.