Portugal signed agreement of intent to join European ‘armoured vehicles coalition’
Portuguese Minister for National Defence Nuno Melo said that the country has signed an agreement of intent to join the European ‘armoured vehicles coalition’ to supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, as well as to repair and maintain armoured vehicles, TASS reports
“In Brussels [during the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on June 13th] I signed a letter of intent, according to which Portugal, along with other states, will participate in the coalition of armoured vehicles led by Poland, Italy and Germany. The document was also signed by the Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov,” the head of the department noted.
According to him, participation in the coalition envisages the training of Ukrainian servicemen in the use of combat vehicles on the territory of Portugal. “Portugal is ready to participate in two working groups dealing with training, exercises, organisation of shooting practice areas and military theoretical training,” Nuno Melo said.
In late May, Ukraine and Portugal signed a security agreement envisaging the allocation of military assistance to Kiev by Lisbon – worth 126m Euros in 2024. Lisbon confirmed its participation in the international coalition of F-16 fighter jets, the naval coalition, as well as in large-calibre ammunition procurement programmes for Kiev and efforts to mine Ukrainian territory. As reported, the agreement is designed for a decade.
