Defence Minister Nuno Melo confirmed this Saturday in Portimão, Algarve, that the increase in investment in the Armed Forces will begin with an increase in the “salary framework” of the military, due to the budgetary situation in the country.
“The first measures we will take will be related to this reward system” for the military, Nuno Melo said on the sidelines of a military ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the Air Force.
The government official added that pay increases for military personnel would be carried out “always taking into account budgetary circumstances” in order to “provide a worthy respect for the armed forces.”
“This means that this leap cannot be made overnight, it will be done in stages,” Nuno Melo said.
In this regard, the Minister of Defence stated that he had held “many meetings” on this issue with the heads of various units, in particular with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General João Cartaxo Alves.
The defence minister said the draft state budget, which will usually be announced in October next year, should already take into account the anticipated military investment efforts.
“When you want to update something that hasn’t been done for years, nothing can be paid for without a corresponding budget allocation and therefore, […] This must be confirmed by the finance minister and also by the prime minister,” he said.
Nuno Melo also recalled that Portugal must get closer to the commitments it has made within NATO, which involves investing 2% of GDP in defense, a goal that must be achieved by 2029.
The BBC is celebrating its anniversary with a series of events, including the official concert of the BBC Music Orchestra, which will take place this evening at the Municipal Theatre of Portimão.
This morning there was a military ceremony, namely with speeches by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of the Air Staff, as well as a tribute to the fallen, a flypast of aircraft and finally a parade of troops on parade ground and a flypast.
Nuno Melo will also be present on Sunday, the final day of the celebration, at a capabilities demonstration event starting at 4pm in Praia da Rocha, where several air displays and demonstrations of Air Force missions will take place.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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