Publications /
Policy Brief

Back
Why the Atlantic? I. An Emerging ‘Pan-Atlanticism’
Authors
Paul Isbell
December 14, 2023

The Atlantic Basin has long lacked diplomatic and political initiatives embracing it as a whole. In that regard, it stands out from other oceans, as focus on the North Atlantic has largely overshadowed the "Rest". Nevertheless, a series of recent initiatives point to a possible solution to this long institutional absence. Building on decades of reflection and recent momentum, an emerging pan-Atlanticism might be on the horizon.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    December 1, 2025
    This Paper was originally published on transatlantic.org The contemporary maritime domain is increasingly recognized as a geopolitical and economic space, but also as an environment intertwined with human, social, ecological, and governance systems ashore. The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR 2024) report argues that maritime security has evolved from a narrow naval and state-centered concern into a multidimensional issue embedded in global human s ...
  • July 3, 2025
    Launched in November 2023, Morocco’s Atlantic Initiative aims to provide landlocked Sahel countries with strategic access to the Atlantic Ocean through major infrastructure investments in ports, roads, and rail. Anchored in regional integration, the initiative supports economic growth, ...
  • June 30, 2025
    This episode explores the future of Pan-African diplomacy, highlighting the urgency for African states to reinvent multilateralism amid global shifts. It discusses how initiatives like th ...
  • June 10, 2025
    في هذه الحلقة من برنامج "حديث الثلاثاء"، نناقش المبادرة الملكية المغربية لربط دول الساحل بالمحيط الأطلسي، ودور موريتانيا كشريك استراتيجي في تنفيذها. يسلط الضيف خالد الشكراوي الضوء على أهمية الموقع الجغرافي لموريتانيا وتحولها السياسي كمقومات رئيسية للمساهمة في هذا المشروع. تشكل المبادرة ...
  • October 22, 2024
    Significant historical milestones have redefined global power structures and shaped the evolution of transatlantic relations. From the Peace of Westphalia to the end of the Cold War, international relations have undergone major transitions. The fall of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Eastern Bloc created new dynamics within the transatlantic alliance, offering both challenges and opportunities for Western countries to realign their strategies in a rapidly changing world. ...
  • Authors
    September 20, 2024
    Le minilatéralisme, approche flexible et rapide de la coopération internationale, s'avère efficace pour relever des défis communs entre un petit nombre d'États. Inspiré du « Dialogue 5+5 » méditerranéen, ce concept est proposé pour renforcer la coopération euro-africaine dans l'espace atlantique, en créant un forum « 3+3 » réunissant l'Espagne, la France, le Portugal, le Maroc, la Mauritanie et le Sénégal. Ce cadre permettrait de répondre aux enjeux sécuritaires, ...