“Honestly, I think we shouldn’t be alarmist either. There is no recommendation for Portuguese people who have to travel, not to travel to the United States,” said the minister, acknowledging, however, that citizens follow the news and “need to know that there is now a greater screening of entries than there was before.”

Paulo Rangel was asked about the tensions between the European Union and the United States and the fact that the European Commission provided disposable cell phones and computers to some officials traveling to the country.

The European Commission has provided disposable mobile phones and basic laptops to some officials travelling to the United States, including Portuguese European Commissioner Maria Luis Albuquerque, to avoid the risk of espionage, the Financial Times reported.

European commissioners and senior officials scheduled to travel to the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank next week have received the new guidance, according to four people familiar with the process cited by the British newspaper on Monday.

Insisting that “there is no reason for alarmism”, Paulo Rangel stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for “standing alongside the Portuguese, especially those who are in a vulnerable situation”.

“The US consulates and our US embassy are also involved in this, but honestly, I really wanted to make an appeal here to downplay this situation,” he added.

Regarding the application of tariffs by US President Donald Trump on imported products, Paulo Rangel said that the Portuguese Government has been following the negotiations with the European Commission since the beginning.

“In relations within NATO, in trade relations between the European Union and the United States, here are the governments, this one and the one that emerges from the next elections, to represent the interests of Portugal and the interests of Europeans and our companies”, he assured.

Regarding the case of a Portuguese citizen who had a permanent residence visa in the United States, living on American soil since the age of 2, and who was detained by immigration authorities, Rangel reiterated that the Government is following the case.

Paulo Rangel said that the citizen will be presented to a judge and that, after the court decision is known, the Government will provide support if necessary.