Pedro Nunes/Reuters
The Portuguese government expressed 'Great concern' After learning this week that Sao Tome and Principe, one of its former colonies in Africa, has signed a military cooperation agreement with Russia. “As soon as this agreement was announced, we began consultations with the Sao Tome authorities.”Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said in an interview on Thursday evening with SIC Noticias TV.
“First, Portugal, then other European countries, expressed their astonishment, fear and bewilderment at this agreement.”He announced this while recognizing that São Tomé is a state “Independent and sovereign” And he had “full legitimacy” To make such a decision. But he stressed that “Since we find ourselves in an international situation where the Russian Federation is responsible for a war of aggression that also includes the European continent, we have clearly expressed our grave concern.”.
Movement of Russian aircraft and ships
Since Wednesday, Portuguese media have echoed information reported by Russian news agencies stating that Sao Tome and Russia signed, on April 24 in St. Petersburg, a military cooperation agreement that provides for the training or movement of Russian aircraft and ships in this archipelago located in the Gulf of Mexico. Guinea.
These developments came at a time when the president of Guinea Bissau, another former Portuguese colony, was in Russia to attend celebrations commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany.
