In 1943, during World War II, the British and Americans began discussions about the possibility of using the Azores as a strategic military base. The geographical location of the archipelago in the Atlantic made it a logistical point of great value for Allied operations in Europe.
In 1951, now in the context of the Cold War, the United States again demonstrated interest in the Lajes Bases, seeking to negotiate directly with Portugal the permanence of its military forces in the region. The conversations focused on how the Americans could maintain a stable and lasting presence in that Portuguese territory.
Portugal remained the main and decisive interlocutor in all these negotiations, retaining control over the final decision regarding the use of the Lajes Bases. The expression "key holder" illustrates Portugal's privileged position in relation to American and British strategic interests, which needed Portuguese agreement to carry out their plans.
