Return from mandatory military service? “It’s not the most important discussion”

Portugal has a “very long way to go in terms of Defense investments before we talk about reviewing the mandatory military service model”, says the Minister of Defense, Helena Carreiras, in an interview with Renaissance.

The Minister of Defense considers that the debate on the return of compulsory military service (SMO) is not a priority in Portugal, at a time of war in Ukraine, a Russian threat and when Denmark has extended SMO to women.

“I would say that there are several other instruments, such as this investment in strengthening defense industries and their articulation with the economy, technological developments that are perhaps of greater importance in the future in relation to our ability to defend ourselves and preserve ourselves. peace and security on our continent.”

The Minister of Defense considers that, at this moment, the return of the SMO will not be the most important discussion for Portugal. Still, if the debate emerges, a due assessment of impacts, effects and costs will have to be carried out.

“It doesn’t seem to me, at this moment, that it is the most important discussion for us, but if it emerges it will have to be done and we will have to make a due assessment of the impacts, the effects and the cost. All of this is on the table and the The next Government and Portuguese society, as a whole, will be able to have these discussions.”

In this interview with RenaissanceHelena Carreiras also talks about the Portuguese contribution of 100 million euros for Ukraine to buy artillery ammunition.

The objective is for the ammunition to be “quickly delivered to Ukraine”, as part of an initiative launched by Czechia, to help in the war effort against Russia, he emphasizes.

The European Union recently presented a defense strategy, which includes the joint purchase of equipment and weapons and the strengthening of the European weapons industry, with an initial budget of 1.5 billion euros.

Asked whether the EU could go further, the Minister of Defense speaks of “good news” and considers that we are facing “an ambitious project as a whole”.

“It is important to start, it is important to note that this strategy is part of a set of initiatives and measures that Europe has been taking very clearly in recent times”, highlights Helena Carreiras.

To Renascença, former minister António Vitorino said that European defense investment will have to be “much higher” than 1.5 billion euros.

Helena Carreiras considers that “it is always desirable that there could be more”. “We are all aware that we have to reinforce our investment in defense and this awareness is now very clear in the European Union”, she highlights.