The Portuguese military forces and overseas operations

At the time of writing, Portugal had 13 active missions abroad, with a total of 574 military personnel engaged, with 47 means involved and 11 countries which are: Colombia; The Gulf of Guinea; Mali; Sao Tome and Principe; Central African Republic; Somalia; Somalia-Indian Ocean; Pomegranate; Jordan; Iraq; Afghanistan. (This is Part 3 of the Tatiana del Moraes study of the Portuguese Armed Forces for the U K Defence Forum) .

Portugal has collaborated extensively in United Nations peacekeeping missions, as well as in security and defense missions within the NATO and the European Union (EU). She is a founding member of NATO and an active member state in enhanced cooperation on security and defense matters in the EU.

For example, in 2019, about 392 military personnel participated in three United Nations missions; about 197 military personnel, a submarine and an aircraft for six European Union missions; and approximately 1100 military personnel, a frigate, a submarine, and seven aircraft for eleven NATO missions. The REAL THAW annual exercise of Portuguese joint and combined strength was designed to train a wide range of battlefield missions, in the most realistic environment possible. The exercise also focused on interoperability between different countries. Elements from Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States and NATO (AWACS) were employed under a simulated mandate authorized by the UN, deploying as a multinational stabilization force, and 648 military personnel, two frigates, a patrol vessel, a hydrographic vessel, and two aircraft for nine missions under bilateral and multilateral agreements. Details of operations can be found on the next page.

Under the banner of the United Nations, Portuguese forces have participated in:

• MINUSCA (United Nations Integrated Multidimensional Mission for Stabilization of Mali )
• MINUSMA (United Nations Integrated Multidimensional Mission for the Stabilization of Mali) in support of the transition process, contributing to the stabilization of the country with military means and forces at Headquarters, in Bamako, between January and December. 
• United Nations Mission in Colombia in the verification of the cessation of hostilities between the Government and the FARC-EP and in the monitoring of the political, economic and social reintegration of the former elements of the guerrilla with means and observers, between January and December.

In collaboration with the European Union, Portugal was present in the operations of:
• EU NAVFOR MED (EUROPEAN UNION NAVAL FORCE MEDITERRANEAN) (OPERATION SOPHIA)
In the Southern and Central Mediterranean in order to contribute to the dismantling of networks for the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking, for the implementation of the arms embargo and for the training of the Libyan Coast Guard, with military personnel at Headquarters in Rome, on the admiral's staff, a P-3C Cup + aircraft in Sigonella, a submarine and military personnel on board .
• EUTM SOMALIA - EUROPEAN UNION TRAINING MISSION SOMALIA
Contribute to the training and education of the Somali Security Forces, military personnel at Headquarters, Mogadishu and military personnel on the training team, between January and December .
• EUTM RCA - EUROPEAN UNION TRAINING MISSION CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Contribute to the reform of the defense sector in the Central African Republic and to the modernization, effectiveness and democratic accountability of the Central African Armed Forces with the Military at Headquarters in Bangui between January and December. Portugal commanded the mission until July 2019. Currently the 2nd Commander is Portuguese .
• EUTM MALI - EUROPEAN UNION TRAINING MISSION MALI
Train and advise the Armed Forces of Mali, helping to increase their capacity to defend the territory and protect the population, with military personnel at Headquarters in Bamako and military personnel on the training team between January and December .
• EU NAVFOR SOMALIA - EUROPEAN UNION NAVAL FORCE SOMALIA (OPERATION ATALANTA)
Protect maritime traffic that crosses the Gulf of Aden and the Somalia Basin, preventing and stopping acts of piracy, with a military man at Headquarters in Northwood, Rota, after March 4, a mission carried out between January and December .
• EU BATTLEGROUPS
Ensure permanent military capacity to respond to crises, or conflicts, that may occur anywhere in the world. Portugal contributed with a mechanized snipers company, in the 1st semester, that composed the Forces in readiness.
At NATO, Portugal has been performing Focused Collection Activity contributed to monitoring in the Baltic area with military personnel and the P-3C Cup +, between 29 March and 21 April .
• NATO ASSURANCE MEASURES
In Lithuania, in order to contribute to the collective effort of NATO, within the framework of a series of military activities, carried out in the territories of central and eastern Europe, in order to strengthen the Alliance's deterrence and response capacity in the face of potential threats, with a Marines force, between June 28th and September 25th .
• TAILORED FORWARD PRESENCE
In Romania, in order to contribute to the dissuasion and defense of the Alliance on its southeast flank, more directly for the benefit of the Member States located in that geographic space with military personnel at the headquarters of the multinational brigade in Craiova, military personnel at the Headquarters of the southeast multinational division, mechanized infantry battalion battalion affiliation, from January to December .
• RESOLUTE SUPPORT MISSION
Contribute to training and advice to the Afghan Armed Forces, in order to provide the Afghan Government with the essential tools for establishing a sustainable security climate, with military personnel at Headquarters, support for the national contingent, airport protection company, security team training and assistance, special operations from January to December .
• NATO MISSION IRAQ
Contribute to the building of sustainable security and defense structures that ensure the country's stabilization, with a military man at Headquarters in Besmaya, from January to December .
• KOSOVO FORCE
Contribute to the maintenance of a stable and safe environment that guarantees freedom of movement for all citizens, with military personnel at Headquarters in Pristina .
• OPERATION SEA GUARDIAN
Contribute to situational knowledge and maritime safety in the Mediterranean, with military personnel, a P-3C CUP + aircraft, a submarine and military personnel on board .
• STANDING NATO MINE COUNTERMEASURES GROUP ONE (SNMCMG1)
In the Baltic and North Sea, for deterrence and permanent naval capacity, in order to guarantee the conduct of naval operations in peacetime or crisis with detachment of sapper divers .
• STANDING NATO MARITIME GROUP ONE (SNMG1)
In the Atlantic and Mediterranean, for deterrence and permanent naval capacity, in order to guarantee the conduct of naval operations in peacetime or crisis, with military personnel on the Admiral's General Staff, military personnel on board, a Frigate with a helicopter .
• ENHANCED AIR POLICING
Carry out air policing missions, in order to safeguard the integrity of the airspace of the Member States, with military personnel and four F-16Ms, from March 1 to April 30 .
• OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE
In Iraq, in order to contribute, within the framework of the International Coalition to combat Daesh, to support the formation and training of the Iraqi Armed Forces with military personnel at the training center in Besmayah, a military man at the main headquarters in Baghdad, a military man at the rear headquarters in Kuwait between January and December) and with about 20 elements of special operations in the 2nd Semester .
• OPERATION GALLANT PHOENIX
In Jordan, in order to contribute to monitoring the flow of foreign fighters, linked to terrorist organizations, to Iraq and Syria with military analysts at the Coalition Collaboration Center in Amman, between January and December .

• JOINT SUPERVISION AND OPERATIONAL AND MARITIME TRAINING OF SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE
Train the Coast Guard of São Tomé and Príncipe, supporting joint maritime surveillance and contributing to the reinforcement of maritime security with onboard military personnel, a Patrol Ship, between January and December .
• OPEN SEA INITIATIVE 19.1
Contribute to the international training effort of the countries of the Gulf of Guinea, in matters of maritime security and combating illegal activities at sea, with 170 soldiers on board, a frigate, between 22 January and 6 April .
• OPEN SEA INITIATIVE 19.2
Contribute to the international training effort of the countries of the Gulf of Guinea, in matters of maritime security and combating illegal activities at sea, with military personnel on board and a Hydrographic Ship .
• AFRICA MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP
Support, in cooperation with the United States Armed Forces, local authorities in the Gulf of Guinea in the development of maritime security, military capabilities and a P-3C Cup + aircraft .
• OBANGAME EXPRESS
Contribute, in cooperation with the North American Armed Forces, to increase maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, with military personnel and a P-3C Cup + aircraft, between March 6 and March 22 .
• MISSION CORYMBE
Contribute, in cooperation with the French Navy, to the reinforcement of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, with soldiers on board a French ship .
• EUROMARFOR EUROPEAN MARITIME FORCE
Ability to carry out naval operations, simultaneously contributing to maritime situational knowledge, with military on board, a frigate with a helicopter, between June 20 and July 19 .

On the 10th of May 2021, a framework cooperation agreement was signed lasting until 2026, between Portugal's defense minister, João Gomes Cravinho, and his Mozambican counterpart, Jaime Bessa Neto. It includes the training of military personnel from that country. Portugal will contribute to the training and qualification of Mozambican forces; foresees the training of successive companies in the armed forces, in three to four months, for three years. This represents a "triple" of Portuguese investment in cooperation projects with that country, which has existed since 1988 .