The Secretary of the Presidency, André Bradford, stated last Thursday that the new services for the Lajes Air Base should also be understood as an opportunity to promote the strategic centrality of the Azores in the Atlantic.
Speaking at the opening session of the seminar “The Azores in the Geopolitics of the Atlantic” (Os Açores na Geopolítica do Atlântico) that took place at the University of the Azores on last Thursday, which was integrated in the celebrations of the Azores as European Region of the year, André Bradford reminded that with regard to the new services for the Lajes Air Base “nothing has been decided and nothing will be decided without the consideration and the protection of the interests of  the Azores and the Azoreans.” Moreover, he reminded that “the Government of the Azores will not yield to any external interest on this matter.”
Before an audience of students, scholars and representatives of the military branches, where the role of the Azores in geopolitics and in the international context was discussed, the Regional Secretary of the Presidency took the opportunity to ask: “are we not defending the interests of the Azores and the Azoreans when we reinforce the role of the Region in the context of Portugal’s participation in NATO?” or “are we not fighting for the Region’s interests when we seek to maintain 800 jobs and the annual 70 million Euros brought by the American presence on Terceira Island?”
The Seminar “The Azores in the Geopolitics of the Atlantic” continued on Friday at the Anfiteatro C of the University of the Azores.