Morocco has announced a new diplomatic initiative at the United Nations aimed at strengthening South-South and triangular cooperation among developing countries, as Rabat continues to expand its role in promoting multilateral partnerships across the Global South.
Speaking in Santa Marta on Friday, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, announced the imminent creation in New York of a “Group of Friends of South-South and Triangular Cooperation.”
Hilale made the announcement during the closing session of the expanded meeting of the Bureau of the UN High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, which was held this week in Colombia.
The Moroccan ambassador, who chairs the committee, said the initiative is being launched in partnership with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
“The momentum generated in Santa Marta must now translate into strengthened political coordination and sustained commitment to these two modalities of cooperation,” Hilale said.
He described the future Group of Friends as an “open and informal platform” intended to encourage dialogue, strategic reflection, and broader coordination on South-South and triangular cooperation both within the UN system and beyond.
According to Moroccan officials, the initiative reflects the strategic vision promoted by King Mohammed VI in favor of solidarity-based and mutually beneficial cooperation among countries of the Global South, particularly across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific regions.
The announcement also comes as the United Nations reflects on reforms to the multilateral system under the “UN80” initiative launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Morocco said the new platform aims to strengthen the visibility of South-South cooperation mechanisms and create a dedicated space in New York for exchanges, technical assistance, partnerships, training programs, and coordination among UN delegations.
