Portugal joins UK, Canada, and Australia in officially recognising statehood for Palestine

Along with this, the foreign minister backed the two-state solution with Israel as the only way to lasting peace for both states and in the region.

Updated on: Sep 22, 2025, 01:35:09 IST

Edited by Danita Yadav

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After Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, Portugal has also announced its official recognition of the state of Palestine.

On Sunday, Portuguese foreign minister Paulo Rangel announced that Portugal now officially recognises the state of Palestine. Along with this, the foreign minister backed the two-state solution with Israel as the only way to lasting peace for both states and in the region.

"Recognizing the State of Palestine is therefore the fulfilment of a fundamental, consistent, and widely agreed policy," Rangel told reporters in New York ahead of the annual UN General Assembly.

"Portugal advocates the two-state solution as the only path to a just and lasting peace, one that promotes coexistence and peaceful relations between Israel and Palestine," he added.

UK, Canada and Australia announce formal recognition

Earlier on Sunday, UK PM Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom now officially recognises the state of Palestine, in a huge break way from previous British foreign policies.

Starmer's announcement also comes after Donald Trump's visit to the UK, where the US president stated that he does not agree with Starmer decision to recognise statehood for Palestine.

“Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clearly as prime minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognizes the state of Palestine,” Starmer said in a video message.

“We recognized the state of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today we join over 150 countries who recognize a Palestinian state also," the UK PM added.

Following the UK, Canada and Australia also formally recognised Palestine.

“The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established,” Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said in an official statement.

“It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law. Its sustained assault in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of civilians, displaced well over one million people, and caused a devastating and preventable famine in violation of international law. It is now the avowed policy of the current Israeli government that ‘there will be no Palestinian state’, Carney added.

Meanwhile, as per Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, the decision to recognise Palestine "recognises the legitimate and long held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own".

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

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