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Portuguese president talks by phone with Trump about Lajes base in Azores

Xinhua, January 13, 2017 Adjust font size:

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa talked with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday about their historical bilateral relations and the Lajes air base on Terceira island of the Portuguese Azores islands, according to Portuguese Lusa News Agency.

"The President of the Republic has just spoken with President(elect) Trump, recalling the good historical relationship between the two countries, which is a guarantee of the continuation of a useful cooperation in the future," a Portuguese official was quoted as saying.

During the phone talk which lasted about 12 minutes, Rebelo de Sousa talked about the Lajes base in the Azores, among other subjects.

The United States announced on Jan.7, 2015 that it would gradually reduce the number of Portuguese employees in Lajes.

It also plans to reduce the number of American civilians and soldiers in Lajes, following the global economic crisis, which Portugal has strongly objected.

The Portuguese government has insisted on the "strategic importance" of the Lajes base. Endit