Portugal: Autonomy plan is most serious, credible basis to resolve Western Sahara dispute

Rabat: Portugal has renewed its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, describing the Autonomy Plan as the most serious, credible, and constructive basis for resolving the Western Sahara dispute.

Portugal asserted its position in a Joint Declaration adopted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita with his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel following their meeting on Tuesday in Lisbon.

The declaration recognized the importance of the Sahara dossier for Morocco and the country’s serious and credible efforts within the framework of the UN-led political process to contribute to a political, just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.

The meeting served as an opportunity for the two countries to reiterate their determination to cooperate and strengthen bilateral ties.

“The two ministers reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolution 2756, which acknowledges the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic, and sustainable political solution based on compromise,” the declaration concluded.

Portugal has long been among the countries that back Morocco’s territorial integrity, endorsing Rabat’s autonomy initiative for the Sahara.

However, the European country has now moved forward to adopt a stronger and more explicit position, joining a growing chorus of countries that view the Moroccan Autonomy plan as the most serious and the only political solution to end the dispute.

Today, over 114 countries around the world back the initiative that Morocco submitted to the UN Security Council in 2007.

In the joint declaration, Portugal also commended other initiatives launched by Morocco, including the Atlantic Initiatives, particularly the Process of Atlantic African States and the international royal initiative to facilitate Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic.

Portugal also recalled the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic African Gas pipeline project, a massive endeavor that aims to mobilize gas over 6,000 kilometers from West to North Africa and potentially onto Europe.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel commended Morocco’s role as a driver of development and provider of stability in North Africa as well as across the continent.

In the joint declaration, Morocco and Portugal also reaffirmed their determination to boost and maintain stability, security, and peace in their respective regions.

“They also reaffirmed their commitment to these principles, as well as to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty over states.”

According to data compiled by the Observatory of Economic Complexity, trade between the two countries recorded a positive balance.

Portugal exported in April €83.5 million worth of goods to Morocco, while it imported €40.4 million from the country.

“In April 2025, the year-on-year decline in Portugal‘s exports to Morocco was driven mainly by exports of animal or vegetable fats, oils, & waxes (€-4.44M or -100%), iron and steel (€-12.8M or -96.9%), and mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (€-22M or -88.9%),” the data said.