LISBON, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's Public Prosecutor's Office on Monday opened an investigation into the legality of U.S. use of Lajes Air Base in the Azores following a complaint filed by the Left Bloc party.
The complaint called for an investigation into whether the United States had complied with Portuguese law in using the military base, arguing that its use could constitute a "gross violation of international law."
The issue returned to the political agenda during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Portugal on Oct. 8 and was raised the following day in parliament again during an appearance by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.
When the complaint was filed, Left Bloc coordinator Jose Manuel Pureza said the government either agreed with what he described as a gross violation of international and Portuguese law or lacked the political resolve to distance itself from the alleged illegality.
Amnesty International also urged the Portuguese government to clarify its position on using the base ahead of Rubio's visit.
"Portuguese authorities must clearly tell the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump that Lajes Air Base cannot be used for war crimes," Joao Godinho Martins, executive director of Amnesty International Portugal, said in a statement to the media last week.
The investigation came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran launched on Feb. 28. Iran has retaliated with strikes against targets in Israel and in countries hosting U.S. interests, including military bases and other infrastructure in the Gulf region.
The Lajes Air Base, located on the island of Terceira, has long served as a strategic facility for U.S. military operations across the Atlantic. Its use is governed by bilateral arrangements between Portugal and the United States. ■