China's interest in Lajes
 

Last I looked Portugal was a NATO member then again how realistic could this get...

cheers

China may be trying to take over a critical US air base in the Atlantic - Business Insider

The Azoreans would seem to have been provided with a bargaining chink in the US negotiating armour.

Before the armchair strategists arrive, I have to say that Basil is a very naughty boy.....:=

Jack

Basil, is there a slope on the runway? :E

US media try to punt idea Chinese interested.

Chinese wonder why ?

Lets face it when Obama visits anywhere there is huge money spent in advance on getting stuff up to standard................. apart from Chicago as nukes not allowed.

The story does bring home just how inept we are in terms of strategic vision. We spend trillions a fighting pointless wars yet potentially sacrificing an incredibly useful strategic asset to save tiny sums of money.

Out of Trim,

Are you Jezza at the weekend?

use it or lose it........

"Today, however, Lajes Field has the atmosphere of a ghost town. Fewer than 200 American personnel remain stationed at Lajes. At lunch or dinner, the dining room hosts no more than a dozen people. Office and administrative buildings are well-maintained but vacant. In the subdivisions closest to the base, only two or three townhouses are occupied
along entire blocks.



Last summer, the base school closed. While the purpose of Lajes was not to provide welfare to the Portuguese, the abrupt withdrawal of US personnel has left the island in a crisis and looking for alternatives."

Another chink [ooops] in the West's armour. Oh, those Chinese are very clever.

Laundry provision will improve then...

I give it 2 minutes after the first Chinese plane lands before Carlos pitches up for a rations request......

I have some fantastic if blurry memories of several of my short visits over the years.

Carlos's wonderful in-flight, Those sandwiches were amazing !

Drinking lots of very good red wine, lots of seafood, very cheap.

PX shopping, more drinking lots of very good red wine. Did I mention the wine ?

Fuel spills all over the pan, Americans losing their sense of humor.

The captain telling us the bad news that we weren't staying the night on what was supposed to be a 24 hour trip, an instead we would be spending 5 nights in New England instead. Brilliant times for a 21 year old liney.