President of the Government receives Commander of 65th Air Base Group - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Boleiro, received the Commander of the 65th Air Base Group, Colonel Carina Harrison, at an audience held today.

The President took the opportunity to reiterate the "importance" of the Azores in the alliance between Portugal and the United States of America and the strategic importance of the Lajes Base on Terceira Island.

José Manuel Bolieiro requested that the Commander inform the U.S. administration about the "importance of a massive and preferably growing American presence at the base" in Terceira.

"We cannot do without the geostrategic recognition that the Azores represent for this alliance," emphasised José Manuel Bolieiro.

The 65th Air Base Group comprises four squadrons supporting combatant commanders worldwide, with more than 1,200 men and women stationed at two sites: Lajes Field, Portugal and Morón Air Base, Spain.

The group provides power projection platforms for U.S. and allied air operations while maintaining combat support and global command and control capabilities.