DEFENCE SPENDING

 

 

In the light of the resignation of Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey claiming that Prime Minister Sir Keir Stamer is not spending enough on defence, it is worth noting that  Portugal does not publicly disagree with the UK's defence spending as both nations are bound by their history, centuries-old bilateral alliance and NATO obligations.

 

Portugal focuses on its own rearmament while actively encouraging the UK and Europe to strengthen industrial and security partnerships.

 

Portugal is committed to achieving NATO's defence spending by targeting 2% of GDP years ahead of schedule.

The Portuguese government is pursuing this through domestic capability enhancements, specifically in maritime and air defence.

 

To cooperate with EU-UK Security, Portuguese leaders have historically pushed for the European Union to establish "broad structures of partnership" with the UK, ensuring that any capability gaps are addressed through collaborative security frameworks rather than isolation.

 

While the UK's defence plans have been delayed by internal funding debates, Portugal has deepened its industrial ties with Britain. Portuguese tech and defence firms are actively investing hundreds of millions of euros into British-based manufacturing, particularly for the UK's shift toward unmanned and autonomous systems.

 

In prioritising NATO over a European Army, Portugal continues to oppose the creation of a separate European army, advocating instead for the modernisation of allied forces - including the UK'- strictly within the NATO framework.