US ambassador to Lisbon accuses Portugal of playing China's game

The American ambassador in Lisbon accuses the country of playing China's game, and asks in an interview to stay away from it.

© RFI / Béatrice Léveillé

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On the eve of a visit by the US Under Secretary of State for the Economy to Portugal, and in the midst of a trade war between the US and China, the US Ambassador in Lisbon accuses the country of playing China's game , and asks in an interview to move away.

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With our correspondent in Lisbon,

For Georges Glass, the case is heard, Portugal must choose between the West and the East.

Between the United States and China.

The diplomat, in his interview with the weekly

evokes the issue of 5G for which Portugal plans to collaborate in part with the Chinese Huawei.

But above all, international trade with the call for tenders for the construction of a new terminal at the port of Sines, 170 km south of the capital.

Several Chinese groups have positioned themselves on the call for tenders for this port which already has a terminal operated by the Chinese in Singapore.

The American ambassador recalls that the United States does not have a port base in Europe, and Sines, the closest deep-water port to the United States, represents a considerable stake, in particular for the delivery of liquefied natural gas.

Georges Glass has been in Lisbon for three years.

He is not a career diplomat but a businessman directly appointed by Donald Trump.

The American ambassador, who urges Lisbon to choose friend and ally, does not hesitate to evoke reprisals in matters of defense and security.

Response from Santos silva, the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs: we are the masters at home.

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