General Ray Henault, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, visited Portugal September 13-15
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September 2006
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General Ray Henault, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, visited Portugal September 13-15, where he was met by Admiral José Manuel Mendes Cabeçadas, Chief of Defence Staff for the Portuguese Armed Forces.
During the visit, General Henault made special mention of Portugal's important troop contribution to the NATO-led operation, ISAF, because the current Portuguese contingent is operating in Afghanistan without any significant national caveats. "While Portugal's troop contribution to Afghanistan can be considered modest at 165 troops, the fact that it comes with little or no restrictive caveats is a significant force multiplier for the Commanders on the ground", said Gen Henault to a Portuguese news conference. "I saw your proud soldiers setting up a Quick Reaction Force at the Kandahar airfield three weeks ago, having deployed from their base in Kabul, at a crucial time, when the ISAF Commander needed an added force protection capability at the Kandahar airfield", added the Chairman.
General Henault also met with the Portuguese President, Mr Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva, who along with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defence conveyed his country's strong support to the NATO Alliance and its priorities. The Chairman used these opportunities to pass on the Alliance's appreciation for Portugal's valued contribution to NATO operations.
Portuguese officials assured the Chairman that despite already having troops in the southern part of Afghanistan, they would continue to make a concerted effort to look for any other capabilities that Portugal could send to Afghanistan, in order to answer the Alliance's call for NATO nations to fill the remaining resources gaps, in the agreed to, ISAF Statement of Requirement.
The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee directs the day-to-day business of the Committee, NATO's highest military authority, whose consensus based advice to the North Atlantic Council is crucial to NATO's decision making process.
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