Lockheed C-5 Galaxy Lands in the Azores at Key Transit Point

On Thursday, February 20, 2026, an American Lockheed C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft of the United States Air Force landed in the Portuguese Azores. The aircraft arrived at Lajes Base on Terceira Island, a key transit point for NATO in the North Atlantic. The arrival was noted by air traffic monitoring services; the aircraft took off from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Lajes Air Base, also known as Air Force Base No. 4, is jointly managed by Portugal and the United States under bilateral agreements. Its strategic importance grew during World War II when it served as a key point for Allied convoys. During the Cold War, it was a significant outpost for monitoring Soviet submarines in the Atlantic. This event is another element of increased movement of American military equipment through this region. On February 18-19, a squadron consisting of 12 multirole F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets transited through Lajes Base, subsequently continuing their flight towards the Middle East. The C-5 Galaxy, capable of transporting tanks, helicopters, and large quantities of supplies, therefore appeared there after the fighters' departure, ruling out their joint stationing as some earlier reports had suggested. Movement of US Air Force through the Azores (February 2026): February 18 — Arrival of F-16s; February 19 — Departure of F-16s; February 20 — Arrival of C-5 Galaxy Media outlets, including the portal wnp.pl, which was the first to report on the arrival, as well as RMF24 and wpolityce.pl, noted this event. These portals, citing the general geopolitical context, link the increased movement of American military equipment to growing tensions between the United States and Iran. The Reuters agency had previously reported on the presence of American military aircraft in Portugal; however, the US Department of Defense in official statements avoids linking these operations to specific crises, describing them as routine. „"Lajes Air Base is regularly utilized by our aircraft for routine transit operations, in accordance with longstanding alliance agreements with Portugal."” — Pentagon The strategic location of the Azores, roughly halfway between North America and Europe, makes Lajes Base an extremely important logistics hub. It enables the rapid movement of forces and supplies towards Europe, Africa, and the Middle East without the need for refueling. 130 ton — The maximum payload that a C-5 Galaxy aircraft can carry on board. For months, the Pentagon has expressed concern over the development of Iran's nuclear program and the activity of Iran-backed groups in the region. In this context, the arrival of an aircraft capable of transporting heavy equipment may be viewed as an element of advanced logistical preparations. However, it must be emphasized that the mere presence of such an aircraft at a transit base does not constitute proof of planning specific offensive operations. Especially since Portugal, as a NATO member, has made this infrastructure available to its ally for decades.

Perspektywy mediów: Left-wing and center-left media emphasize the routine nature of the flights, citing the official Pentagon position, and warn against drawing hasty conclusions about conflict escalation. Right-wing and conservative portals highlight the temporal coincidence with tensions with Iran, suggesting that the military movement is not coincidental and may herald preparations for a potential confrontation.