Portugal has officially recognized the State of Palestine, joining Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom in this historic decision. Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel announced the move, stating that Portugal supports peaceful relations with both states and the Palestinian right to self-determination. The decision was made on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly summit, which will be dominated by Middle East issues, particularly the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry praised Portugal’s decision, calling it a courageous step aligned with international law and UN resolutions. Over 140 world leaders are set to attend the UNGA summit, aiming to revive the two-state solution. Earlier this month, the General Assembly overwhelmingly supported a resolution calling for the two-state solution, with only the United States and West Jerusalem, along with eight other countries, opposing the measure.