AssetID: 56084138
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Rubio Calls Portugal 'Ideal Gateway' To Europe For US
Caption: Rubio Calls Portugal 'Ideal Gateway' To Europe For US. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Portugal an "ideal gateway" to Europe for American technology companies during a visit to Lisbon. Rubio described Portugal as a "great ally" and said his visit, the final stop of a tour of three NATO countries, was intended to strengthen ties. He was expected to thank Portugal for allowing the U.S. to use Lajes Field air base in the Azores for operations linked to the Iran war. Portugal’s attorney general is examining whether the use of Lajes Field was lawful following a complaint by the left-wing Left Bloc party. Rubio also met Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and praised Portugal's defence investment, stressing that NATO members needed strong military capabilities. He highlighted growing economic ties, saying U.S. investors put more than $20 billion into Portugal last year while Portuguese companies invested over $2 billion in the U.S. Rubio also praised cooperation against drug trafficking, saying Portuguese authorities working with U.S. agencies had seized 200 tonnes of cocaine in recent years. Portugal allowed Washington to use Lajes following the Iran conflict, unlike Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who refused U.S. use of Spanish bases for attacks on Iran. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Marco Rubio,Portugal,Luís Montenegro,Lisbon,Lajes Field,Azores,United States,NATO,Iran war,Europe,defence spending,military bases,US technology companies,investment,drug trafficking
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