LISBON, Sept 19 – Portugal has announced it will formally recognise the State of Palestine on Sunday, joining Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom in a coordinated move ahead of a high-level United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) conference on Palestinian statehood.
The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the decision in a statement Friday, marking the end of nearly 15 years of parliamentary debate. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro reportedly consulted with the president and parliament before finalising the move.
Portugal’s recognition comes as international pressure mounts on Israel, following a UN inquiry that found its war on Gaza amounts to genocide. Since October 2023, at least 65,141 Palestinians have been killed and 165,925 wounded, with thousands more believed to be trapped under rubble.
A growing global shift
Portugal will become one of several Western nations recognising Palestinian statehood in coordination with France, which is co-hosting Monday’s UNGA conference alongside Saudi Arabia. Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino and others are also expected to follow suit.
Already, more than 147 UN member states — around 75% of the world body — have recognised Palestine. But the move remains controversial, with Israel and the United States strongly opposing it. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called France’s recognition “reckless” and accused countries of “playing into Hamas propaganda.”
EU divisions, regional consequences
While Spain, Ireland, and Norway recognised Palestine in 2024, many EU nations remain divided. Luxembourg’s government has gone further, suggesting sanctions against Israel and possible arms embargoes.
Establishing Palestinian statehood has been a UN priority since 1947, when its partition plan allocated 45% of the territory to an Arab state. Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned last year that new illegal settlements would be built in retaliation for every country that recognises Palestine.
Portugal’s recognition will formally take place Sunday, September 21, one day before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to address the UNGA remotely, after the U.S. denied him a visa.
