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Mar 5 2026

OCCAR-EA Director officially welcomes Portugal into the OCCAR Community

Lisbon/Portugal, 5–6 March 2026 – OCCAR-EA Director Joachim Sucker conducted a series of high-level engagements with senior representatives of the Portuguese Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces to officially welcome Portugal as new Participating State. 

During the visit, Mr. Sucker met with the National Armaments Director (NAD), Mr. Antonio Jose de Morais Baptista, the Deputy NAD Rear Admiral Antonio Mateus, the Chief of the Portuguese Army, General Eduardo Mendes Ferrão, the Deputy Chief of Army Lt General Boga Ribeiro and the Chief of Portuguese Navy, Vice Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa and their staff to discuss the roadmap for Portugal’s accession.

Under the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, Portugal will participate in three major OCCAR programmes: the FREMM multi-mission frigates, the BOXER 8×8 modular vehicle family, and the FSAF-PAAMS air and missile defence system. These programmes will support Portugal’s long-term capability development and strengthen European industrial cooperation.

Portugal’s accession marks a significant milestone in OCCAR’s ongoing expansion into one of the most important enablers for complex cooperative armament programmes. As a committed member of both NATO and the European Union, Portugal will further enhance its contribution to collective security and reinforce its standing as a reliable partner in European defence cooperation and deterrence.