Since 1945, the North American Air Force has been present at Lajes Base, on Terceira Island.
Through the long history of coexistence between Portugal and the United States, bonds of friendship between the Terceirenses and the North Americans were created, but, mainly, an economy of dependence on the Base on Terceira Island was established.
Over time, we have seen a reduction in the number of North American military personnel and, more recently, the contingent has become insignificant when compared to the approximately three thousand military personnel and family members who lived there. This is the main gain of Terceira and the Azores, jobs.
*Legislator of the Social-Democratic Party, PSD (Portugal)
