Azores and Republic to recognise their “geostrategic centrality”

A The Azores Legislative Assembly today approved by a majority a resolution of the Liberal Initiative recommending the Republic to recognize the “geostrategic centrality” of the Azores in national policies, strategies and instruments on safety, defense and maritime and air surveillance.

“ The way this draft resolution has been redone, in full replacement, and the instances to which it will be distributed, must make some companies touch and, from that point of view, I hope that these entities look at it with attention and consequence,” said Nuno Barata, IL’s only deputy in the Azorean parliament, during the plenary, in the city of Horta.

The IL resolution, which was adopted only with one abstention (from the PAN), and one vote against (from the BE), will be sent to the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic, but also to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defence, the European Defence Commissioner and the European Parliament's Security and Defence Committee.

The document, which also advocates the operational valuation of the Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island, also recommends the promotion of national projects and programs involving the participation of Azorean entities.

“ The geographical position of the archipelago in the North Atlantic gives it an essential importance for national security and defence, for cooperation between Europe and North America, and for the projection of surveillance, communication, logistics and crisis response capabilities”, in addition to the resolution now adopted.

For the authors of the initiative, the appreciation of that basis should not be limited to the bilateral relationship between Portugal and the United States of America, but should consider Portugal's permanent defence and security needs, the European priorities for strengthening defence capabilities and the possibilities for cooperation with international allies and partners.

“ Furthermore, the classification of the Azores as the outermost region of the European Union should not be confused with a condition of geostrategic periphery. If ultraperiphery translates certain territorial, economic and accessibility constraints, it does not and cannot determine the strategic relevance of the Azores in the context of contemporary international relations”, warns Nuno Barata in the same document.

The IL Member believes that increasing attention is also needed to the underwater area, where submarine communications cables, sensors, autonomous systems, digital infrastructures and marine resources are key dimensions of security, connectivity and the economy of the future.

“ In this sense, its protection requires surveillance, scientific knowledge, technological capacity and articulation between the entities responsible for the defense, maritime security, research and protection of critical infrastructures”, the document can be read.

The proposers point out that this resolution “does not require the creation of new financial instruments”, but only that the economic and scientific actors of the Region are able to access the mechanisms of financing, investment, innovation and procurement national and European, as well as to participate in the value chains associated with security and defence.

“ The strategic appreciation of the Azores requires an effective articulation between the Regional Government and the Government of the Republic, respecting the competences of each one, even because a regional strategy for the Atlantic should establish concrete objectives, responsibilities, investment priorities, funding sources, implementation indicators and evaluation mechanisms”, concludes Nuno Barata.