José Manuel Bolieiro highlights strategic importance of Armed Forces in the Azores - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, attended today the Distinguished Visitors Day of the  "Milhafre 25" military exercise at Portas do Mar in Ponta Delgada. This exercise demonstrated the capabilities of the Portuguese Armed Forces in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

The "Milhafre 25" exercise aimed to train and assess the response capacity of the Armed Forces in the Region through joint operations involving the maritime, land and air components, strengthening coordination between the Azores Operational Command and the Joint Command for Military Operations of the General Staff of the Portuguese Armed Forces.

The head of the Azorean Government emphasised the importance of the military presence in the archipelago, highlighting the role of the Armed Forces in security and assistance to the population.

"The Armed Forces are true partners of the Azores. They are always where they are needed, with dedication and a sense of mission," he said.

José Manuel Bolieiro also highlighted the strategic importance of the Azores in the national and European context, noting that the archipelago "adds value to Portugal and the European Union due to its position in the Atlantic and the responsibilities this entails in terms of security and defence."

The "Milhafre 25" exercise consisted of a public demonstration of air, naval and land assets of the Armed Forces stationed in the Azores, reinforced by units from Mainland Portugal. It also featured an interactive exhibition open to the public at the Ponta Delgada Marina Cruise Terminal, where the main missions and operational capabilities of the armed forces deployed in the archipelago were presented.

The initiative also brought together civil and military entities, including the Chief of General Staff of the Portuguese Armed Forces, General José Nunes da Fonseca, the President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Luís Garcia, and the Representative of the National Government for the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Pedro Catarino.