Gouveia and Melo considers that there is no alternative to investing in defense

The former Chief of Staff of the Armada considered on Tuesday that « there is no option » alternative to investment in defense. However, Henrique Gouveia and Melo defended intelligence to both the economy and the preservation of the social state.

« What is the option? Is there any other option? Is the option not to defend ourselves when we are being attacked? Is the option we do not ripper if they want to take freedom? No, there is no option, » said Gouveia and Melo.

The Admiral, who participated in What’s Next Summit 2025, which took place at Porto Business School, answered a question about Prime Minister’s statements Luís Montenegro, who on Monday associated the investment in the defense industry with well-being in daily life and individual freedom of citizens.

Gouveia and Melo stated that “Portugal today has excellent conditions to host investments” in the sector, following what had already written in theROpinion published in the latest edition of Nascer do Sol.

« Pottle the economy of defense as a motor of technological innovation and strategic sovereignty will allow a greater return on investment, » wrote the Admiral in our newspaper. « Integrate Portugal in the supply chains of the future Pan-Europeia Defense Industry, in sectors of high added value and strong technological component, preferably of double use, will contribute to this return to the economy, » he added.

This Tuesday, at Porto Business School, Gouveia and Melo complemented the argument: « What we have is to do more intelligently, trying to benefit the economy with everything that has to be done in the area of ​​defense, and there is this possibility?

For Gouveia and Melo, investing in defense may end up resulting in “investing in technology, which increases economy productivity, and increasing economy productivity, returns to the economy what has been taken to invest in defense, having as a subsidiary and complementary thing” for any threat ”.

According to the Lusa agency, asked if the investment in defense could not compromise basic services such as health, education or social state, Henrique Gouveia and Melo resorted to intelligence in decision making.

“We have to be intelligent in how we make these investments, precisely to try to preserve the social state that we all want,” he said