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Rabat – Omar Hilale, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Chair of the UN High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation, announced on Friday a new Moroccan-led initiative aiming to establish a “Group of Friends of South-South and Triangular Cooperation” at the UN headquarters in New York.
Hilale made the announcement during the closing session of the expanded Bureau meeting of the High-Level Committee, held this week in Santa Marta.
Speaking before delegates, he stressed that the momentum generated during the Santa Marta meetings should now evolve into stronger political coordination and sustained commitment to advancing South-South and triangular cooperation frameworks.
“In the spirit of solidarity, ambition, and collective responsibility that guided the work in Santa Marta, Morocco is pleased to announce the imminent creation in New York of the Group of Friends of South-South and Triangular Cooperation,” Hilale said, noting that the initiative will be launched in partnership with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.
According to the Moroccan diplomat, the initiative is envisioned as an open and informal platform aimed at promoting dialogue, strategic thinking, and the diversification of partnerships among countries of the Global South, both within the UN system and beyond.
Hilale explained that the initiative aligns with the vision of King Mohammed VI, who has consistently advocated for a model of South-South cooperation based on solidarity, mutual benefit, and co-development among developing nations, particularly across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific regions.
The initiative also comes at a time when the international community is reflecting on the future of multilateralism under the framework of the “UN80” initiative launched by António Guterres. Within this context, the proposed Group of Friends seeks to strengthen the visibility of South-South and triangular cooperation mechanisms while building stronger political support around them.
Beyond political dialogue, the platform is expected to serve as a space for partnership-building, technical assistance, training, and coordination among UN delegations in New York, reinforcing collaboration between developing countries on shared development priorities.
Morocco has increasingly positioned itself as a key advocate for South-South cooperation in recent years, expanding diplomatic, economic, and development partnerships across the Global South as part of its broader foreign policy strategy.
