Portugal has officially announced that it will recognize Palestine as a state, setting the date for its declaration of recognition as Sunday, September 21. The decision comes just prior to a high-level conference on Palestinian statehood scheduled at the United Nations General Assembly.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the move in a statement, saying “Portugal will recognise the State of Palestine.” The recognition follows a prolonged domestic debate—nearly 15 years—during which Portugal’s parliament deliberated over proposals first introduced in 2011 by the Left Bloc political party. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who heads a centre-right government, reportedly consulted both the president and parliament before finalizing the decision.
Portugal joins several other nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and San Marino, in announcing their intention to recognise Palestinian statehood next week. As of April this year, around 147 UN member countries—about 75%—had already extended recognition.
The move reflects growing concern within Portugal over what it calls the “extremely worrying evolution of the conflict” in Gaza, along with repeated Israeli threats to annex land in the occupied territories and an escalating humanitarian crisis. These developments reportedly influenced Portugal’s government to move from symbolic support to formal recognition.
Internationally, this announcement adds momentum to efforts by European states to shift their policy stance regarding Palestine, particularly as numerous countries prepare to make recognition declarations around the same time. Portugal’s decision is expected to play a role in shaping diplomatic alignments and could deepen pressure on governments that have not yet formally recognised Palestine.
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