Two of the three countries designated as hosts of the milestone 2030 FIFA World Cup, Morocco and Portugal are also strengthening bilateral relationships that are over a century old. Coincidentally both countries along with Spain are hosting the edition of the World Cup that marks 100 years of the global event.

At the weekend, Portugal took note of the decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union on  regarding the agreements between the European Union and Morocco in the areas of fisheries and agricultural product liberalization.

Portugal considers that the partnership between the European Union and Morocco is essential and will work with European partners and institutions to deepen it in all areas.

On a bilateral level, Portugal and Morocco also have a strategic partnership marked by a long-standing relationship of respect and friendship, with substantial political, diplomatic, and economic ties.

In this year, which marks the 250th anniversary of the peace treaty, strengthening relations with Morocco, both bilaterally and at the European level, is a strategic priority for Portugal.

The efforts of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI to ensure global peace have been hailed by the United States. This is an outcome of the high-level meeting held on Tuesday by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Washington, D.C.

In a press statement issued by Matthew Miller, the spokesman in the office of US Secretary of State, Blinken expressed appreciation for King Mohamed VI’s crucial voice in advancing a more peaceful and secure Middle East region. 

The Secretary highlighted Morocco’s leadership in responding to humanitarian needs in Gaza, supporting stabilization in the West Bank, and contributing to the revitalization of the Palestinian Authority.  The Secretary welcomed Morocco’s ongoing efforts to end the political stalemate in Libya and address instability in the Sahel.

The Secretary affirmed full U.S. support for UN Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Staffan de Mistura and his efforts to advance negotiations leading to an enduring and dignified political solution for Western Sahara without further delay.  He reiterated that the United States continues to view Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal as serious, credible, realistic, and one potential approach to satisfy the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara.

Denmark has joined the increasing number of nations who have stated openly that they support Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met with his Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York where he declared his support for Morocco’s Autonomy plan.

“In support of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, the Kingdom of Denmark considers the Autonomy Plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 to be a serious and reliable contribution to the ongoing international process and a solid basis for a mutually agreed-upon solution among all parties,” Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Ministry conveyed Denmark’s position as saying.

The Scandinavian nation’s support of Morocco’s ambition for autonomy is a new diplomatic victory for Rabat in a world where trends are constantly changing and going outside the conventional Euro-Mediterranean area of influence.

Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces is gaining pace internationally because to this support.

In 2007, Morocco presented the autonomy plan to the UN Security Council, proposing that the Sahara be recognised as a semi-autonomous territory under Moroccan authority.

This will provide local communities complete autonomy over the management of their social, economic, and political matters, with the central Moroccan government continuing to have jurisdiction over matters of defence and diplomacy.

The effort has gained support over time from an increasing number of nations across several continents and regions.

This past August, President Emmanuel Macron of France became the latest member of this expanding list, emphasising in a letter to King Mohammed VI that Western Sahara’s present and future ‘come within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty’.

Finland, another country in the Nordic area, has endorsed Morocco’s drive for autonomy, calling it a “good basis” for resolving the Sahara conflict.

The Scandinavian nation reaffirmed its support for the autonomy idea this past August, describing it as the best practical foundation for resolving the conflict in the long run.

Denmark has become the 18th European nation to formally recognise Morocco’s authority over the disputed area by expressing support for the Autonomy Plan.

The number of nations that have done so quickly is increasing, demonstrating the potency of Moroccan diplomacy.

Foreign ministers frequently commend Morocco for its leadership in the area and recognise its revolutionary development programs in the southern regions.

This increased support, however, coincides with Morocco’s more aggressive declaration that it will not accept any settlement that deviates from the Autonomy Plan framework.

In his speech to the 79th UN General Assembly earlier this week, Moroccan President Aziz Akhnnouch reiterated this stance.

He emphasised the necessity for a compromise tempered by the UN and Algeria’s full participation in any political negotiations, saying that the autonomy idea is the only way to resolve the conflict over Western Sahara.

As per Akhannouch, the increasing backing conveys a “unambiguous message to the other parties and the United Nations that the time has arrived to proceed towards a political resolution grounded in this framework, via a sequence of roundtable talks, through UN Security Council resolutions.”