Portugal joins global push to recognise Palestinian state Ahead of UN conference

Portugal has announced it will formally recognise the State of Palestine on September 21, joining a growing list of countries including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom in a coordinated diplomatic move ahead of a high-level conference on Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that Portugal will recognise the State of Palestine. The Official Declaration of Recognition will take place on Sunday, September 21st, before next week’s High-Level Conference," the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed, Al Jazeera reports. 

According to Correio da Manhã, the decision followed consultations between Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, the president, and parliament, ending nearly 15 years of parliamentary debate since the Left Bloc first proposed the move in 2011.

Portugal initially signaled its intent to recognise Palestine in July, citing the worsening conflict, humanitarian crisis, and Israel’s ongoing threats to annex Palestinian land.

On the same day, a senior adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and San Marino also plan to join France in recognising Palestinian statehood at the September 22 conference, which is being co-hosted with Saudi Arabia. Canada and the UK have also indicated their intent to recognise Palestine.

As of April 2025, 147 countries — about 75% of UN member states — had already recognised Palestine.

Portugal was also among the 145 nations that voted on September 19 to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address the UNGA by video after the US denied him a visa. Only Israel, the US, Nauru, Palau, and Paraguay opposed the move.

The US and Israel have harshly criticised the recent wave of recognitions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called France’s move a “reckless decision” that “only serves Hamas propaganda”. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned last year that a new illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank would be built for every country recognising Palestine.

Meanwhile, Luxembourg confirmed its plans to recognise Palestine. Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel said he would also propose legislation enabling sanctions against Israel, according to broadcaster RTL Letzebuerg.

By Sabina Mammadli