José Manuel Bolieiro calls for stronger strategic role of the Azores within High Council for Internal Security - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, attended the meeting of the High Council for Internal Security at the Belém Palace in Lisbon, the first to be chaired by António José Seguro as President of the Republic.

During a meeting marked by the current international context, José Manuel Bolieiro took the opportunity to highlight the growing strategic importance of the Azores in the Euro-Atlantic area, at a time when the war in Ukraine and the escalating tensions in the Middle East are redefining security priorities.

“We have definitively left behind the illusion of a stable and predictable security order,” he stated, defending that these changes are refocusing the North Atlantic – and with it, the Azores – on the strategic decision-making map.

For the head of the Azorean Government, the Region “has long ceased to be merely a remote region of the European Union,” establishing itself today as “a true axis connecting Europe, America and Africa,” with significance in maritime, energy and communications routes.

José Manuel Bolieiro insisted that this central role must be backed up by tangible investment.

“It is not enough to simply proclaim the centrality of the Atlantic: we must translate this into resources, a visible presence and enhanced cooperation,” he said, highlighting the need to strengthen surveillance, deterrence and response capabilities.

The President of the Regional Government also highlighted that the Azores could be a hub for NATO, the European Union and the United States, whilst calling for greater European responsibility in the area of defence.

Nevertheless, he cautioned that security cannot be achieved through military means alone.

“Defending the territory also means defending people, their quality of life and their expectations for the future,” he stated, emphasising the importance of territorial cohesion and the development of island regions.

The meeting was also marked by the unanimous approval of a favourable opinion on the adjustments to the National Deployed Forces for 2026, as well as a vote of praise for the Armed Forces.