Portugal: Government refuses to send troops to the Ormuz Strait

The Portuguese government will not send troops to the Ormuz Strait," declared Portuguese MFA chief Paulo Rangel on Monday in consequence to U.S. president Donald Trump's appeal to support US troops in Iran's blocked strait, crucial for global fuel transport.

Speaking on behalf of the government, the minister told the media that Lisbon "is not active in any way" in the mediate East conflict.

– Of course, any operations undertaken to unlock the strait Ormuz allows for the restoration of shipping, so it should be considered positive," said Rangel.

Portuguese authorities despite their position on the Strait Ormuz, however, does not intend to ban US troops from utilizing the Portuguese base Lajes on the Azores island of Terceira. any of the U.S. military aircraft landing there take part in Operation Epicka Furia launched against Iran on 28 February.

AB, PAP