Strong Joint Statement Reinforces Strategic Partnership Between Morocco and Portugal, with Full Support from Lisbon for the Autonomy Initiative
ALDAR / Iman Alaoui
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Nasser Bourita, concluded an official visit to Lisbon with a bilateral meeting with his Portuguese counterpart, Paulo Rangel. The meeting resulted in a joint statement carrying profound strategic implications, reaffirming clear support for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative as a serious and realistic solution to the Sahara issue.
Held in a positive atmosphere on July 22, the meeting reflected the depth of steadily strengthening bilateral ties, especially as both countries celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Peace Treaty signed in 1774 and the 30th anniversary of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty signed in Rabat in 1994. The two ministers praised the growing momentum of their relations and agreed on the importance of implementing the commitments of the strategic partnership adopted at the high-level meeting held in Lisbon in May 2023, stressing the need to hold the next session as soon as possible.
The joint statement emphasized that Morocco and Portugal, sharing strategic and geopolitical interests, are committed to regional security and stability, defending the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and promoting the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Both parties also expressed full support for intercultural dialogue and civilizational coexistence, highlighting their successive hosting of the 9th and 10th editions of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum as a vital international platform for fostering openness and peace.
On the economic front, the ministers discussed expanding cooperation, especially in clean energy such as green hydrogen, electricity interconnection, and maritime transport. They stressed the importance of enhancing economic interconnectivity and increasing strategic-impact investments. Both sides also expressed their eagerness to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain, emphasizing its developmental and cultural significance.
The Sahara issue was a central point in the statement, with the Portuguese Republic reiterating its full support for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative, considering it the most serious, credible, and realistic framework for a lasting solution under UN auspices. Lisbon commended Morocco’s responsible efforts within this political process and reaffirmed its commitment to UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2756, which recognizes the parties’ roles in reaching a realistic, mutually acceptable political solution.
The joint statement concluded by emphasizing continued coordination between the two countries in international forums and the development of a comprehensive partnership encompassing political, economic, security, and environmental dimensions, reinforcing Rabat and Lisbon’s roles as complementary regional powers on both sides of the Atlantic.
