Portugal announces it will officially recognise the State of Palestine on Sunday, joining other Western nations ahead of the UNGA high-level conference on Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement posted on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the “Official Declaration of Recognition will take place on Sunday, September 21st, before next week’s High-Level Conference.”
Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel had earlier indicated during a visit to the UK that recognition was under consideration. According to Portuguese media, including Correio da Manha, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro consulted with the president and parliament before finalising the decision.
The announcement ends more than a decade of parliamentary debate. A proposal to recognise Palestine was first put forward by the Left Bloc party in 2011 but had not been enacted.
Portugal joins a growing number of Western nations pledging recognition of Palestinian statehood. Countries such as France, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom are among those expected to make announcements in coordination with the meeting at the UN.
Diplomatically, the decision marks a shift in Portugal’s approach, which had until now sought a broader European consensus. Only a handful of EU member states currently recognize Palestine, including Sweden, Cyprus, and several former Communist states.
The move also comes against the backdrop of mounting international criticism over the conflict in Gaza, with the humanitarian situation deteriorating and global concern increasing over civilian casualties.
Portugal emphasises the recognition is aligned with its foreign policy commitment to human rights and international law. The Foreign Ministry’s statement, however, does not specify immediate changes to diplomatic missions or bilateral arrangements.
