The main US base now is the Lajes airbase on Terceira (pictured left) but American military presence in the Açores started 100 years ago with at Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel.
The reason for an Allied military presence was the German Navy which had been sinking US and Allied shipping in the Atlantic. The governments of the US and Portugal formed an agreement and the first base was created in this strategic area that was an ideal mid-Atlantic refuelling point.
America was supplying the Allies with equipment fuel and, later, troops and the German harassment of neutral US shipping was enough for the US to declare war on Germany and fully participate in WWI. The Açores has played its part in relations between Portugal and the US ever since, through WWII and the Cold War period that followed.
The British also wanted access in 1943 but were at first delayed by António Oliveira Salazar until a threat by the Allies that the Açores would be invaded, encouraged the Portuguese dictator to sign the access agreement to allow British forces to land in October 1943.
The US substantially has reduced its military presence in the Açores but will not totally give up its island base due to the highly convenient location and the fear that someone else will fill the void.
At the end of 1917, the United States officially requested the establishment of its marine base and infrastructure was built with two defensive artillery pieces mounted in Santa Clara and Feteiras on Ponta Delgada and space for seaplanes and submarines.
The US military remains at the Lajes airbase on Terceira Island as part of the Lajes Agreement between Portugal and the US.
Following the US announcement in January, 2015 that it substantially will reduce its presence in Lajes, the Açorean government presented Lisbon with a revitalisation plan for Terceira in which its asks for $167 million annually for 15 years to replace the US derived income and to create jobs.
In 2015, the US intended to reduce the Portuguese workforce of 800 to 370, but trade union and local authority estimates point to the loss of 1,500 jobs when allied, dependent employment is taken into account.
The reduction of civilian personnel at the Lajes airbase could lead to the eventual emigration of 10,000 inhabitants from Terceira island unless there is support to replace the jobs that will be lost, according to a University of the Açores report in 2015.
According to the report's author, Professor Tomaz Dentinho, if the US pulls out as it intended and if nothing fills the gap, people simply will become poor or leave, following a long tradition of emigration to the US and Canada, so that "within 5 to 20 years the population of Terceira will have decreased by 10% to 20%."
The economics professor considered it best to renegotiate the Agreement on Cooperation and Defence between Portugal and the United States, (the Lajes Agreement) which at the moment prohibits the air base being used to land civilian air traffic, "this could boost tourism" said the Professor.
US intentions became clear after a joint statement was issued subsequent to the 36th Portugal - U.S. Standing Bilateral Commission meeting in November, 2016 in Sintra:
9. The Commission discussed developments since May, regarding the streamlining process of the United States Air Force (USAF) presence at Lajes Air Base. Portugal and the United States remain committed to the strategic use and importance of Lajes Air Base for their mutual benefit in line with the shared goal of contributing to global security.
10. The United States reiterates its commitment to ensure the support missions to the Lajes Air Field, in accordance with the operational requirements of the Air Base and in line with the agreed statements from the previous Standing Bilateral Commission meetings.
11. The Commission acknowledged that the process of reduction of Portuguese employees under contract by the 65th Air Base Group has been completed. The United States informed that the intended reduction of U.S. military personnel has also been concluded.
12. The Commission agreed on the need to continue working together on infrastructure issues, with the aim of achieving a mutually satisfactory outcome.
The Lajes airbase continues to be operational, albeit with fewer military and civilian personnel and the 100 year celebrations can go ahead with a degree of certainty over the future of Terceira’s economy.
