Portugal has signed a government-to-government agreement with Italy to acquire three next-generation frigates as part of the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) investment framework, marking a major step in the modernization of the Portuguese Navy’s surface fleet.
The agreement was signed in Rome on July 20 by Rear Admiral António Mateus , Deputy Director-General for Armaments, in the presence of Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo , Chief of the Navy Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa , and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto .