Portugal is committed to finding solutions for safety and security in the Mediterranean

The Portuguese Minister of Defence, João Gomes Cravinho, claimed that Portugal is committed together with its European and African partners to find solutions to the conflicts in the Mediterranean area.

João Gomes Cravinho spoke at the Lisbon Navy Base in Almada during the launch of the Tridente submarine, headed for its NATO (Sea Guardian) and EU (IRINI) missions in the Mediterranean.

He spoke to the 33 officers who are part of this tour, scheduled to return on 13 August, and noted the "undeniable contribution that NATO and the EU’s presence has for safety and security in the Mediterranean".

João Gomes Cravinho also spoke about the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two organizations "by making means available and sharing information between the two missions, both organizations benefit from huge efficiency gains that are appreciated by all". 

Tridente submarine missions in the Mediterranean 

About the missions that started today the Minister claimed that both "have less than ideal resources and therefore Portugal’s contribution is highly appreciated, both in terms of its quality as well as the fact we are supplying a resource in this category".

The Portuguese Navy submarine, Tridente, will take part in NATO’s Sea Guardian operation and support the EU’s IRINI operation.

Under the Atlantic Alliance’s operation, which aims to promote maritime security in the Mediterranean Sea, the Portuguese submarine will "collect intelligence, analyse behavioural patterns in the area and monitor maritime space, focusing on drugs, human and weapons trafficking, survey maritime traffic and marine pollution".

The European Union’s military operation aims to "ensure compliance with the weapons embargo imposed by the UN on Libya, thereby contributing to the peace process in the country".