Portugal and Germany sign defence declaration as Boxer purchase tops one billion euros

Declaration signed in Berlin

Portugal and Germany signed a declaration of intentions in Berlin on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, to strengthen defence cooperation. The text covers projects in armaments, space, drones and military training. Portugal's defence minister, Nuno Melo, and Germany's defence minister, Boris Pistorius, took part in the ceremony. The Portuguese defence ministry announced the agreement in a statement, saying it aims to build situational awareness and possible responses to common threats in the maritime, land, air, special operations and cyberspace domains. It also covers coordinated efforts to protect international shipping routes, the sharing of information, and cooperation in training, exercises and joint operations.

Boxer purchase and F-35 training

Portugal's army is buying 72 Boxer armoured vehicles in a deal worth more than one billion euros. Melo said the deal also provides for production and maintenance of the vehicles in Portugal, which he presented as a partnership benefiting both sides. He used the press conference to stress the practical purpose of the visit.

“This is not just a courtesy visit, this is a working visit.”

Melo also referred to contacts for training F-35 pilots in Portugal. The training is part of a partnership involving Lufthansa Technik, a company the article links to the privatisation of TAP. Germany operates the F-35 through its Luftwaffe, and Lufthansa is set to build a flight training school at Tancos. The Portuguese government has not yet announced a decision to replace its F-16 jets, and it has never said it leans towards buying F-35s from Lockheed Martin.

Space, drones and industry

Melo described a planned satellite launch infrastructure on Santa Maria island in the Azores as a European alternative. He said talks between the Portuguese Air Force and German companies are under way to advance the project. Pistorius named space as one of the areas with the greatest potential for deeper cooperation between the two countries, saying Germany will invest millions in satellite communications. He also said the arms sector has many links with Portugal.

On drones, Melo cited the investment of a Portuguese company in Munich and the use in Ukraine of Portuguese drones tested in combat conditions. He also pointed to industrial links around Portuguese submarines built in Germany, and to contacts between companies in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, communication systems and aerospace.

Context and what follows

Melo said the cooperation comes as Portugal revises its Military Programming Law (Lei de Programação Militar), and that the country will have to strengthen its capabilities in several domains. He also backed a stronger European pillar within NATO. Melo stressed Portugal's commitment to helping Ukraine, which includes training military personnel.