Recognition of Palestinian State by U.K., Australia, and Canada
Context
On September 21, 2025, U.K., Australia, and Canada officially recognised the State of Palestine.
Marks a seismic shift in Western foreign policy, as Britain and Canada became the first G7 countries to do so.
Portugal also followed suit, with France and others expected at the upcoming UNGA session in New York.
The G7 (Group of Seven) countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The G7 originated from a 1975 meeting of leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, with Canada joining in 1976. The European Union also participates in summits but is not a formal member.
Significance
Diplomatic Milestone for Palestine
Over 140 of 193 UN members already recognise Palestine.
Recognition by G7 powers gives greater legitimacy and momentum to the Palestinian cause.
Shift in Western Bloc
Earlier, support for Palestinian statehood was largely from the Global South, Arab world, and some European states.
Now, a mainstream Western recognition challenges U.S.-Israel dominance on the issue.
Historical Responsibility of the U.K.
Reference to the 1917 Balfour Declaration, where Britain supported the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Current move seen as an effort to rebalance historical accountability.
Broader Implications
For the Middle East Peace Process
Pushes the stalled two-state solution back into global spotlight.
Could increase pressure on Israel for ceasefire in Gaza and restraint in West Bank.
For International Diplomacy
Splits the Western bloc, with U.S. vs U.K./Canada/Australia on approach.
Likely to feature heavily in UNGA 2025 deliberations.
For India
India recognised Palestine in 1988, supports a two-state solution.
These developments align India’s stance with new G7 recognition wave, strengthening India’s diplomatic position as a bridge between Global South and West.
What is the Balfour Declaration?
The Balfour Declaration (“Balfour’s promise” in Arabic) was a public pledge by Britain in 1917 declaring its aim to establish “a national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
The statement came in the form of a letter from Britain’s then-foreign secretary, Arthur Balfour, addressed to Lionel Walter Rothschild, a figurehead of the British Jewish community.
It was made during World War I (1914-1918) and was included in the terms of the British Mandate for Palestine after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
The so-called mandate system, set up by the Allied powers, was a thinly veiled form of colonialism and occupation.
The system transferred rule from the territories that were previously controlled by the powers defeated in the war – Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria – to the victors.
The mandate system was a post-war arrangement where the League of Nations granted former Ottoman and German territories to Allied powers to be prepared for independence, and Britain's mandate for Palestine uniquely incorporated the Balfour Declaration's pledge to facilitate Jewish immigration and the establishment of a national home.
This led to large-scale Jewish immigration and conflict with the existing Arab population, ultimately ending with the UK handing the issue to the UN in 1947.
The mandate, and therefore the Balfour Declaration's pledge within it, was formally approved by the League of Nations Council in 1922.