October 6, 2018 marks the 45th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War; the most serious and intense direct military confrontation that had taken place since the end of World War II. The aim of our article is to recall the role played by Portugal in assisting the U.S. and the State of Israel in the course of "Operation Nickel Grass", describing in general terms the outlines of the relations between Portugal and the United States in Defence matters and the role of the Azores Islands as an essential supporting base for the projection of American military power on a global scale; the tense diplomatic negotiations carried out between the Portuguese and the U.S. authorities during the first week of the conflict; the close connection of those negotiations with the final stages of the Portuguese colonial empire and, finally; the consequences and reprisals imposed on Portugal for its support to the airlift operation.

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Yom Kippur War,Operation Nickel Grass,Portugal,USA,Israel,Azores

• História e Arqueologia - Humanidades