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Finland Supports Morocco’s Sovereignty Over Sahara

Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen welcomes her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Helsinki on Tuesday (EPA)
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen welcomes her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Helsinki on Tuesday (EPA)
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Finland Supports Morocco’s Sovereignty Over Sahara

Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen welcomes her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Helsinki on Tuesday (EPA)
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen welcomes her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Helsinki on Tuesday (EPA)

Finland on Tuesday officially joined the list of EU member states which have so far recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and its Autonomy Plan that Helsinki said represent a “good basis for a solution” to the dispute.

The shift marks Finland as the first Nordic country to officially and explicitly back the Moroccan plan, describing it as the only realistic solution to the lingering territorial dispute over the Sahara.

This position was expressed in a joint statement published Tuesday in Helsinki, following talks between Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen.

“Finland considers the autonomy plan presented in 2007 as a serious and credible contribution to the UN-led political process and as a good basis for a solution agreed upon between the parties,” said the statement, reiterating its support for the “political process aimed at reaching a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.”

Also, both ministers expressed their common position on the exclusive role of the UN in the political process, reaffirming their support for Security Council resolutions and the support of their respective countries for the efforts of the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy, aimed at advancing this process.

Finland's new position is part of the momentum of international support for Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara and the Autonomy Plan, under Moroccan sovereignty, backed by many countries, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI in recent years.

It also comes one week after France announced its decision to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. The French move opened the door wide for similar positions from countries that have not yet recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all its southern territories.

Already, several countries have recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.

In 2020, the US was the first country to announce such position. Then US President Donald Trump wrote on his Twitter account that the move is a tribute to Morocco being the first country to recognize the United States as an independent nation.

In 2022, Spain had officially announced its endorsement of the autonomy plan in a move that eased a diplomatic dispute between Madrid and Rabat that flared over a year.

In total, more than 40 countries have expressed support for Morocco's autonomy plan.

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Arab World

Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.