Portugal announced Monday that it is reviewing its airspace arrangements in the wake of Spain's decision to close its airspace to U.S. military aircraft involved in the Iran war, according to European diplomatic sources [1].

The review is significant because Portugal and Spain together form the Iberian corridor — the primary routing for U.S. military flights transiting between North America and the Middle East. Spain's closure, announced Monday by Defense Minister Margarita Robles, already forces rerouting through France, Italy, or northern Europe. If Portugal follows suit, the entire southwestern approach to the Mediterranean is closed.

Portugal's position is complicated by the Lajes Air Base in the Azores, a critical mid-Atlantic staging point that the U.S. military has used since World War II. The base provides refueling and logistics support for transatlantic military operations. Any restriction on Portuguese airspace could affect Lajes operations, though Lisbon could theoretically separate base access from overflight rights.

Switzerland has already rejected two U.S. flyover requests related to Iran operations while approving three others, establishing a precedent of case-by-case evaluation. Several NATO allies have drawn a clear line between defensive alliance obligations and supporting offensive operations they consider legally problematic.

The New York Times reported that the Iran war has narrowed flight corridors between Europe and Asia, with Russia's airspace already closed since 2022 and Iranian airspace now a combat zone. Each additional European restriction compresses the available routes further.

Portugal has not set a timeline for its review. The diplomatic language suggests a decision within days.

-- ELENA MARCHETTI, Lisbon