Chile backs Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara, eyes trade and investment

Morocco and Chile

Santiago says it will pursue investment and business opportunities in the southern provinces as the two countries open free-trade talks

On 21/09/2026 at 22h48

Chile has backed Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and said it wants trade and investment to follow, putting economic cooperation in the region alongside an endorsement of Rabat’s autonomy plan.

The position came in New York on Monday, where Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met his Chilean counterpart Francisco Pérez Mackenna on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with Chilean President José Antonio Kast in attendance.

Chile “supports the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over its entire territory, including the Sahara region,” the two countries said in a joint statement.

It also considers the autonomy proposal presented by Morocco in 2007 to be the “just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.”

Chile said it would give its political support a bilateral expression by promoting opportunities for economic and commercial cooperation in the Sahara, particularly in investment, trade and productive development.

Bourita and Pérez Mackenna, at the same meeting, signed the terms of reference for negotiations on a free-trade agreement between the two countries.

Chile also endorsed UN Security Council Resolution 2797 of 2025 and joined calls for negotiations without preconditions, based on Morocco’s autonomy proposal, towards what the joint statement described as a definitive political solution acceptable to all parties.

By Le360 (with MAP)
On 21/09/2026 at 22h48