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.
