Lisbon: Portugal has expressed strong support for the Atlantic Initiatives launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, aimed at fostering development in Africa. This position was articulated by Paulo Rangel, the Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, during a Joint Statement signed after his meeting with Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, on Tuesday in Lisbon.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the Joint Statement highlighted Portugal’s role as an Atlantic nation in welcoming the initiatives, which include the Atlantic African States Process, the Royal International Initiative to ease Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic African Gas Pipeline Project. Rangel also acknowledged Morocco’s contribution as a catalyst for development and stability across Africa and commended the reforms led by King Mohammed VI.

Both Morocco and Portugal underlined their commitment to maintaining stability, security, and peace in their regions. The Joint Statement emphasized their dedication to peaceful conflict resolution and respect for territorial integrity and state sovereignty. The official visit by Nasser Bourita to Portugal was at the invitation of Paulo Rangel, underscoring the cooperative ties between the two nations.