Portuguese Defence Minister Nuno Melo argued on Wednesday that the national contribution to NATO’s European pillar should be strengthened “not because of Trump, but because of Putin” as Russia, as he said, is already operating with a war economy.

Melo spoke at the closing of the Association of Auditors of National Defence Courses 2024 congress, which took place at the Military Academy in Amadora, Lisbon, with the country’s president in attendance.

“In order to be on the right side of history, on the side of our allies, in defence of these values, we have to assume the responsibilities that are asked of us, in favour of collective security, reinforcing the national contribution to the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance,” argued Melo.

Melo warned of estimates that “Russian investment in Defence by 2025 should exceed the total investment of the 27 member countries of the European Union”.

“This should make us all think, considering that Russia is already operating in war economy mode,” he warned, addressing the country’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the chief of staff of the armed forces, General Nunes da Fonseca, among others.

The minister added that this also means Portugal’s obligation to invest more in defence “not because of Trump, but because of Putin,” referring to the words of former Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius, the nominee for the post of Commissioner for Defence and Space.

Melo also spoke in favour of the measures already adopted by the current PSD/CDS-PP government for the armed forces, stressing that Portugal had also decided to “strengthen its role in NATO” by bringing forward to 2029 the target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on the military.

“However, I would also remind you of the statements made three days ago by NATO’s secretary general, who, certainly expressing the sentiment of the allies, warns that 2% is a target that may already need to be raised, and for this, he indicates figures higher than 3%,” he warned.

Portugal’s effort, he continued, should be made “with the allies”, not least to “strengthen the credibility” of the country, “obviously also taking into account all the budgetary contingencies”.

“But it’s good that we realise the path and where the world is leading us politically,” he added.

The defence minister also noted that the current geopolitical context is “fraught with many uncertainties”, with Russia waging a “war of conquest”, dangerously aggravated by the “involvement of North Korean forces”.

(Ana Raquel Lopes – edited by Pedro Sousa Carvalho | Lusa.pt)