The national defense minister announced on Sunday that “wages and fair assessments” for the Portuguese military and “more justice” for ex-combatants would soon be introduced, as long as his priority was people.
“My priority as defense minister is to get people, ex-combatants and current soldiers, to think about the future,” Nuno Melo said, speaking in Aveiro during a military ceremony marking the end of the 2024 Navy Day celebrations.
In front of an audience of thousands who attended the ceremony, the minister said that at the recent Supreme Military Council, the first step had been taken towards “the pay and fair assessment of Portuguese military personnel, based on the principle of equality with other dimensions of sovereignty, to be realized as quickly as possible.”
The governor also hopes that as soon as possible, “a little more justice will be brought to the former combatants, which is necessary but possible.”
Nuno Melo also suggested that national defense is a priority for this government, ensuring that despite budget constraints it will strive to respond to emerging challenges.
“I want to assure you that, given budgetary space, we will look for possible answers that will enhance the dignity of the armed forces, increase the value of ex-combatants, update incentives for recruiting and retaining military personnel, productivity and technological training of industry, and modernization and adaptation equipment and facilities,” he said.
At the same ceremony, Chief of Naval Staff Gouveia e Melo said he was aware of the “hard work” the government was doing to find “a remuneration situation that strikes a fair balance between the availability, skills and military status requirements of those serving at sea.” “
Admiral Gouveia e Melo also took stock of the three years of his command that are coming to an end, noting that “many changes have been made in the areas of personnel, materials, finances and operations to ensure that the Navy can prepare for this century.”
“It took three years to transform the Navy,” said Gouveia e Melo, highlighting the investment made to update the squadron with 17 new ships, which will make the Portuguese Navy “truly important” in its role as “agents of the state at sea.” .
However, the admiral warned that to maintain the Navy’s combat capability, it was necessary to find a short-term solution that would “remove the limitations of the Alfeite SA arsenal created in servicing the squadron.”
“We are ready to make all necessary efforts to ensure that this decision is implemented as soon as possible,” he said.
In his speech, Gouveia e Melo also mentioned that in 2023, Portuguese Navy ships spent 4,946 days on mission and made about 11 trips around the world, which the admiral considered exceptional for the “navy (…) dimension” of Portugal.
The ceremony included a parade of forces in a parade with over 500 soldiers and a naval display with mock activities that brought thousands of people to Cais da Fonte Nova.
Navy Day is a national initiative that took place in Aveiro this year as part of the National Capital of Culture of Aveiro 2024 program.
The program included a number of events over several days, including demonstrations of military tactics or “drones” and a visit to the training ship Sagres, which was moored in Cais do Sal for the first time in its 87 years of existence.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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