High-level US delegation attends the 50th US SBC in Terceira
The 50th session of the U.S.-Portugal Permanent Bilateral Commission (SBC) met on December 5 in Angra do Heroísmo, the Azores, to discuss cooperation on key bilateral priorities such as transatlantic security, economics, education, and science and technology issues discuss and reaffirm our nations’ long-standing friendship.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Jacqueline Ramos led the US delegation, accompanied by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Tressa Guenov and US Ambassador to Portugal Randi Charno Levine in the senior SBC delegation in recent memory. During the SBC, the two countries celebrated the strategic importance and historical relevance of the Azores and the Atlantic to U.S.-Portugal bilateral relations.
“The Azores holds a special place in our diplomatic relations as it is home to the oldest, continuously operating U.S. Consulate in the world,” said Ambassador Levine. “It was only fitting that the 50thTh The Commission would be based in this region, emblematic of the strong relations between Portugal and the United States.”
Delegations underlined their determination to deepen bilateral economic ties and investments in the areas of energy, climate, health and digital transitions, and to seize the opportunities of a sustainable blue economy supported by marine research and new technologies. These goals were recently reinforced by a joint trade delegation of energy companies led by Ambassador Levine to Washington and New York in October.
Throughout the SBC, the two countries emphasized shared priorities in education, science and technology. The group also visited TERINOV and agreed to discuss further ways to promote joint scientific collaboration and research.
The SBC praised the close cooperation between the US and Portuguese armed forces enables search and rescue operations from the Lajes field. Since its inception in 1978, the Portuguese 751 Squadron has saved over 4,300 lives and logged over 64,000 flight hours. Earlier this year, the US military piloted a rare and historic B-2 Spirit Bomber practice on the Lajes field.
The SBC noted the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) investment of over $23 million in infrastructure and services at the Lajes Field in fiscal year 2023, the largest expenditure since 2006. These investments support the local economy and demonstrate long-standing commitment of the Department of Defense for the Azores, the U.S.-Portugal bilateral defense relationship and transatlantic security.
