# American–Portuguese conflicts

The American–Portuguese conflicts were a series of incidents and engagements between Portugal and the United States from the 19th to 20th century.

## American–Portuguese naval conflicts

During the early 19th century, Portugal repeatedly protested against American privateers who, operating from U.S. ports, attacked Portuguese ships under the flags of South American insurgents, such as the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, and the Federal League.
The first complaints began in December 1816, when the Portuguese envoy in Washington, José Correia da Serra, reported that American privateers, such as Captain Fish, were attacking Portuguese subjects under the flag of Buenos Aires. He added that the U.S. frigate Clifton, commanded by Captain Davy, armed with 32 guns and a large crew, had sailed from Baltimore for Buenos Aires, preparing to join other American vessels in attacking Portuguese ships.
In May 1817, he complained once again about the increasing number of Portuguese ships captured by privateers in U.S. ports. A particular case involved the capture of three Portuguese ships by privateers operated by American citizens.
In December 1818, the privateer Irresistible, whose captain, John Daniels, and crew were all Americans, was plundering on the coast of Brazil, and da Serra requested legal action if the ship entered American ports.
On November 23, 1819, da Serra sent a letter to U.S. secretary of state John Quincy Adams explaining the problem. In the letter, da Serra accused American ports of serving as hubs for privateers, claiming that one port alone had armed 26 ships that attacked Portuguese vessels. He stated:
   One City alone on this coast has armed twenty-six ships which prey upon our vitals, and a week ago, three armed ships of this nature were in that port waiting for a favorable occasion of sailing for a cruise.
In June 1820, da Serra complained that a Portuguese prize had been sold in Baltimore to Captain Chase, who intended to use it as a privateer against Portuguese ships.

## World War II
### War Plan Gray

During World War II, the United States made a plan of a possible invasion and occupation of the Portuguese Azores. Approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 29 May, War Plan Gray called for a landing force of 28,000 troops, commanded by Major General Holland M. Smith, USMC, under Rear Admiral Ernest J. King, the Expeditionary commander. The plan however never took place since Portugal agreed to an Allied request for use of air bases.

### South China Sea raid

During the American raid in South China, the Portuguese colony of Macau was raided despite Portugal's neutrality. The main target was a stockpile of aviation fuel at the Macau Naval Aviation Center, which was reportedly set to be sold to the Japanese. Fort Dona Maria II was also attacked, possibly to destroy a nearby radio station. The raid caused damage to civilian areas and the harbor, killing two soldiers and several civilians.
Following the raid on Macau, the Portuguese government protested the violation of its neutrality on 16 January. The US government issued an apology on 20 January, and a court of inquiry was held. In 1950, the United States compensated Portugal with $20.3 million for damage to Macau's harbor and other accidental raids in June 1945.

## Portuguese Colonial War

The United States first became involved in the Portuguese Colonial War in the early 1960s with their funding support of Holden Roberto. However, since the Kennedy administration, the U.S. has maintained neutrality toward all liberation movements, with American officials denying rumors in Luanda of CIA backing for the FNLA.