Portuguese prosecutors open probe into US use of Lajes base during Iran conflict
Portugal's Prosecutor General's Office has opened an investigation into whether the government's authorisation of US use of the Lajes base in the Azores during the Iran conflict was legal. It follows a complaint from the Left Bloc party.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Portuguese prosecutors said on Saturday 3 October that they had opened a probe into the legality of the centre-right government's authorisation of US use of the Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the Iran conflict. The Straits TimesRC “Portuguese prosecutors said on Saturday they had opened a probe into the legality of the centre-right government's authorisation” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “Portuguese prosecutors said on Saturday they had opened a probe into the legality of the center-right government's authorisation” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 2The Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement that the probe was opened after a complaint filed by members of the Left Bloc party, and gave no further details. The Straits TimesRC “the probe was opened following a complaint filed by members of the Left Bloc party," without providing further details.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “the probe was opened following a complaint filed by members of the Left Bloc party," without providing further details.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 2The Left Bloc had asked prosecutors in April to investigate, arguing that the US use of the base amounted to a "gross violation of international law". Portugal's Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the probe. The Straits TimesRC “The Left Bloc asked prosecutors in April to investigate the US use of the Lajes base, arguing it amounted to a "gross violation of international law."” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “Portugal's Foreign Ministry declined to comment.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 2Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel has said Portugal was not involved in the conflict and that use of the base complied with international law. He said it was authorised only after Washington gave assurances that any operation would be defensive, necessary and proportionate, and limited to military targets. The Straits TimesRC “Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel has said Portugal was not involved in the conflict and that the use of the Lajes base complied with international law” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “defensive, necessary and proportionate, and limited to military targets.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 2A longstanding agreement lets the US use the base without prior authorisation in peacetime but requires Portugal to give approval once hostilities begin. Portugal, unlike neighbouring Spain, authorised several US transit flights through Lajes, which drew criticism from left-wing opposition parties and sparked a political debate over Lisbon's role in operations linked to the conflict. The Straits TimesRC “requires Portugal to give approval once hostilities begin.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “triggered a political debate over Lisbon's role in operations linked to the conflict with Iran.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 2Portuguese prosecutors are bound by the principle of legality, which requires them to investigate alleged wrongdoing when there are sufficient grounds, unlike in jurisdictions where prosecutors have broader discretion. The Straits TimesRC “Portugal's prosecutors are bound by the principle of legality, requiring them to investigate alleged wrongdoing when there are sufficient grounds to do so” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “unlike in some jurisdictions where prosecutors have broader discretion to decide whether a case should proceed.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 2Lajes is a strategic transit hub for US forces under a bilateral defence treaty dating to 1951 and hosts the US Air Force's 65th Air Base Wing, which supports US, NATO and allied operations. The Straits TimesRC “a bilateral defence treaty dating back to 1951 and hosts the 65th Air Base Wing of the US Air Force” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “providing support for US, NATO, and allied operations.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets run the same Reuters wire report, framed as a legal and political story: prosecutors examine the government's authorisation of US use of Lajes, with the Left Bloc complaint and the foreign minister's defence side by side.
- Emphasis
- The legal basis of the probe, the peacetime versus wartime terms of the US-Portugal agreement, and the contrast with Spain.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither adds its own reporting, reaction from the US, or details of what prosecutors will examine; the Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
- Charged language
- “gross violation of international law”
- For example
-
“a decision that drew criticism from left-wing opposition parties and triggered a political debate” — The Straits Times
“Left Bloc claims US use of base was 'gross violation of international law'” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Prosecutors opened a probe on 3 October into the legality of the government's authorisation of US use of Lajes.
- The probe follows a complaint by Left Bloc members, filed in April.
- Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel says use of the base complied with international law.
- Portugal's Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the probe.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether authorising US use of Lajes during the Iran conflict was lawful
- Left
- No left-leaning outlet covered the story; the Left Bloc, per the wire copy, called it a "gross violation of international law".
- Right
- Both outlets carry Reuters copy reporting the Left Bloc's claim and Rangel's reply that it complied with international law after US assurances.
Portugal place
Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel says Portugal was not involved in the conflict and that the base use was lawful, authorised only after US assurances. The Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the probe.
“Portugal's Foreign Ministry declined to comment.” — The Straits Times
“having been authorized only after assurances from Washington” — The Jerusalem Post
East and Southeast Asia1 outlet
The Straits Times carries the Reuters report unchanged, with a Lisbon dateline.
“LISBON, Oct 3 - Portuguese prosecutors said on Saturday they had opened a probe” — The Straits Times
The Straits Times
Israel1 outlet
The Jerusalem Post runs the same Reuters text, adding a subheading on the Left Bloc's claim.
“Left Bloc claims US use of base was 'gross violation of international law'” — The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Portugal prosecutors probe legality of US use of Lajes base in Iran war
Neutral Reuters copy in the Straits Times presents the probe as a legal step following an opposition complaint, with the government's defence included.
-
Portugal prosecutors probe legality of US use of Lajes base in Iran war
Neutral Reuters copy in the Jerusalem Post, with a subheading highlighting the Left Bloc's 'gross violation' claim alongside the government's rebuttal.
- 3 Oct 14:13 First The Straits TimesRC Portugal prosecutors probe legality of US use of Lajes base in Iran war via Reuters
- 3 Oct 15:56 +1h 43m The Jerusalem PostRC Portugal prosecutors probe legality of US use of Lajes base in Iran war
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.