Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will deliver his sixth and final address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today, Tuesday, marking the end of a cycle of interventions in which he has consistently defended multilateralism and international cooperation.
This year, however, Portugal’s decision to formally recognize the State of Palestine has added a new layer of significance to its participation in the 80th UNGA, chaired by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, himself a former Prime Minister of Portugal, underscoring Portugal’s visibility in this year’s proceedings, where Portugal becomes the 11th EU member state to formally recognize Palestinian statehood.
The formal announcement was made on Sunday by Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel at Portugal’s Permanent Mission to the UN, placing Portugal among the European countries that recently recognized Palestinian statehood, aligning with a growing majority of the UN’s 193 members.
On Tuesday, President Rebelo de Sousa will make this historic decision by addressing a High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Resolution of the Question of Palestine, co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia, where he reaffirmed Portugal’s commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace.
“Portugal has joined the international community in recognizing the State of Palestine, not as an act against anyone, but as an act in favor of peace, coexistence, and dignity for both peoples,” Rebelo de Sousa has stated, emphasizing that principles of international law, human rights, and the search for a just resolution to the conflict guided Lisbon’s move.
According to the UN’s speaking order, Rebelo de Sousa will be the 11th head of state to address the Assembly, in the morning session in New York. As is tradition, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will open the debate, followed by U.S. President Donald Trump, representing the host nation.
Beyond his speech, Rebelo de Sousa continues a diplomatic agenda to advance Portugal’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2027–2028 term. He is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Kiribati, Micronesia, and Iraq, as well as with the Crown Prince of Kuwait and Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Foreign Minister and President of the 80th UNGA session.
On Monday, the President also met with the Portuguese community in New York, saluting their role as “ambassadors of Portugal’s culture, language, and values” and acknowledging the diaspora’s enduring contribution to ties between Portugal and the United States.
Rebelo de Sousa’s final participation at the 80th UNGA comes less than six months before the end of his presidential mandate. He was welcomed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in what was described as a farewell meeting. Later this evening, he will join the traditional reception hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump for heads of delegation.
The 80th United Nations General Assembly, under the theme “Better Together: 80 Years and Beyond for Peace, Development and Human Rights,” amid the wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. President Rebelo de Sousa will remain in New York until Wednesday, when he is scheduled to participate in an open debate of the UN Security Council on artificial intelligence, international peace, and global security.
PAJ/Staff
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, 76, is the 20th President of Portugal, first elected in January 2016 and re-elected in 2021. A professor of law, academic, and seasoned political commentator, he is widely known for his accessible style and close connection with Portuguese citizens at home and abroad. Before his presidency, Rebelo de Sousa had a long career in public life: as a law scholar at the University of Lisbon, a journalist and television analyst, a founder of Portugal’s Social Democratic Party (PSD), and briefly its leader in the 1990s. He also served as a deputy in the Assembly of the Republic, a government minister, and a member of the Council of State. As head of state, he has been recognized for promoting political stability, defending democratic values, and representing Portugal on the international stage. His presidency will conclude in March 2026, at the end of his second constitutional term.
