Defense Secretary says we must ‘value NATO’s strength and unity’

The Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo, said this Sunday that the strength and unity of NATO should be valued, while guaranteeing the government’s loyalty to the collective security that this organization promotes.

“In this 21st century, the Portuguese have also witnessed an unacceptable war that has broken out in Europe, generated by the invasion of one sovereign state by another, in a violent manner and with the purpose of occupation, which is a very serious violation of international law,” he said in Batalha (Leiria) to Nuno Melo. referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Considering that this conflict “tests the strength of democratic and free allies,” the minister emphasized that “this war has forced many to reflect on the need to have a competent defense to guarantee a lasting peace.”

“This week, which marks the 75th anniversary of NATO [Organização do Tratado do Atlântico Norte, na sigla inglesa]“I want to remember here the true meaning of things: NATO won the so-called Cold War without the use of weapons because it was strong politically and operationally,” he stressed during the celebration of the 106th anniversary of the Battle of La. Fox and the Day of the Fighter.

According to a government official, “now that the threats have returned, at a time when the conflict is too close to the borders of the European Union and NATO,” we must “appreciate the strength and unity of NATO.”

“Our responsibility is to work for the present and future of transatlantic ties,” he said.

Nuno Melo also recalled that “the twentieth century was a very difficult century for Europeans, who on this continent witnessed two world wars and, as a consequence, the confrontation between totalitarian and democratic models.”

“The construction of the European project was from the very beginning a project guaranteeing peace, reconstruction and prosperity. And the stability of the security and defense union system is an important asset for the Portuguese and people who value freedom,” he noted. .

In this context, he emphasized the country’s loyalty to the “system and missions of the United Nations”, “the goals and objectives of the European Union” and “the collective security guaranteed by NATO and its missions”, believing that there are “three pillars – the invaluable contribution of a broad and patriotic consensus around defense policy, which, after 25 April, was painstakingly created and supported by constitutional governments.”

“This will continue to be the case,” the government official promised, adding in this context missions and national military cooperation programs “aimed at beneficially strengthening ties” with Portuguese-speaking countries.