It needs to be "crystal clear that no one enters NATO territory"

The Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa claimed that "it needs to be crystal clear that no one enters NATO territory", claiming that the Alliance does not intervene in third countries, nor does it want to aggravate any tension, but it will defend itself.

"NATO is a defence alliance, it does not trigger war, it does not intervene in a war in a third country and therefore, it is not taking part in any military action on Ukrainian soil. It offers military, political, moral, and economic support but it does not intervene in a military capacity. Yet it is a defence alliance, and it must be crystal clear that no one enters NATO territory", António Costa stated.

The Prime Minister was addressing the journalists on his way in to NATO HQ in Brussels, where the Alliance heads of state or government summit is being held. He is with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva and the Minister of Defence, João Gomes Cravinho.

António Costa also noted that "NATO does not wish to contribute to this logic of worsening tensions. On the contrary, it has sought to reinforce a message of tranquilisation, of paving a way to peace and for the negotiations to be effective and not just a mere way to buy time to continue with war and destruction in Ukraine".

Regarding the summit, António Costa said it will serve to clearly state "the Alliance’s unity on the European pillar, the United Kingdom pillar, the American pillar", and "a clear affirmation that we must put an end to the war, we need to re-establish international law with the retreat of Russian troops from Ukraine and the respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence".

Portugal has troops ready to be deployed in five days

The Prime Minister further added that Portugal has troops ready to be deployed in five days. In total, there are 1049 soldiers for NATO’s Response Force, adding that their deployment "is a decision that falls exclusively under" the NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), US General Tod D. Wolters.

"Our forces are under his orders, these troops that are integrated in the response force are at his orders and they are ready to be deployed in five days if and when NATO SACEUR so sees fit", he added.

António Costa underlined, however, that he hopes "this is not necessary", as "it would be a sign" that NATO needs to "strengthen its message of deterrence and make it clear that it is a defence alliance".

The Prime Minister also recalled that under the Alliance, Portugal has bolstered its participation "in the set of deterrence contributions in NATO’s eastern countries". Costa also highlighted the fact the country contributed to help Ukraine under the EU by applying "all the sanctions that have been decided", and which he acknowledges are "a heavy burden" on the Portuguese economy.

"We have also been offering humanitarian aid, as .well as material aid (namely material equipment) based on our bilateral relations with Ukraine", he underlined

Under the Atlantic Alliance framework, Portugal is part in NATO’s 'Response Force' this year, a joint multinational force that is rapidly deployed and capable of ensuring a rapid military response in an emerging crisis. It has three forces, ready to be deployed in different stages.

The swiftest, called the "Very High Readiness Joint Task Force" (VJTF), envisages deploying up to 1049 Portuguese soldiers, 1 ship, 162 tactical vehicles and 7 aircraft.