During a pivotal visit to Morocco, Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita celebrated the deepening of bilateral relations, highlighting Finland's continued support for Morocco's Sahara autonomy plan. This visit underscores a robust partnership, with both countries committing to enhanced political and economic cooperation, as well as backing UN efforts for regional stability. The Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen ‹ › During a visit to Morocco, Finland's Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen, met with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, this Sunday. This visit marks a significant step in bolstering the ties between Rabat and Helsinki, following Finland's endorsement of Morocco's Sahara autonomy plan two years ago. After their discussions, both ministers lauded the strengthening of their bilateral cooperation across various domains, particularly in political and economic spheres. In a joint statement, Finland reiterated its backing of Morocco's autonomy proposal for the Sahara, labeling it a «serious and credible» solution for a lasting and mutually acceptable resolution to the regional dispute. On this occasion, both parties expressed their approval of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, reaffirming their support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his personal envoy. During a press briefing, Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, conveyed his satisfaction with the progress in relations with Finland since his last visit in 2024 to the present day. Strengthening Bilateral Dynamics Since 2024 The Moroccan foreign minister emphasized Helsinki's robust support for Rabat's Sahara autonomy proposal under Moroccan sovereignty. He noted that Rabat backed Finland's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, recognizing its role in the adoption of Resolution 2729. Additionally, both nations are exploring avenues to enhance their international coordination and regional cooperation, both within Europe and Africa, Bourita added. This dynamic has been further reinforced since Finland's favorable stance on the Moroccan autonomy plan in 2024, when Helsinki highlighted it as «a good basis» for a definitive solution and «a serious and credible contribution to the political process led by the UN.» On the economic front, Nasser Bourita pointed out that cooperation has also thrived from this rapprochement. Currently, forty Finnish companies operate in Morocco across various sectors. Between 2024 and 2025, trade exchanges between the two countries surged by 72%. Both nations aim to build on this momentum, particularly through their economic forum and the exchange of governmental visits.
