The President of the Government of the Azores assured the United States’ interest in the Lajes Air Base, which is demonstrated by the maintenance of the Portuguese workers employed by U.S. forces in 2010. “There is no evidence of activity reduction, by the contrary,” stated Carlos César.
“I do not think there is any lack of concern on the part of the United States regarding the Lajes Air Base,” the President of the Government stated, adding that given its geographic location, “the importance of this is air base is irreplaceable, which has been demonstrated over the course of History, particularly in recent conflicts.”
Carlos César stressed that although the U.S. are currently restructuring and redefining their military positioning in various international settings, the importance of the air base in the Azores continues to be acknowledged.”
The President of the Government spoke to journalists at the Sant’Ana Palace at the end of an audience granted to Colonel José Rivera, who took the command of the North American detachment at the Lajes Air base. 
Carlos César also considered that the project concerning the use of Azorean airspace as a training ground for high-end military planes “has not been abandoned; it was suspended to be reconsidered in a more opportune time.”