Atlantic Dialogues: Plea for stronger South-South Atlantic cooperation, endorsement of King’s Atlantic initiative

Former African and Latin-American presidents underlined the need for a stronger South-South Atlantic cooperation that serves the interests of the peoples of Africa, Latina America and the Caribbean, and stressed that Morocco and Brazil can lead the way in promoting this initiative.

During a panel held in Marrakech Thursday under the theme “A New Atlantic Deal: Southern Perspectives”, as part of the 12th edition of Atlantic Dialogues, the former presidents of Nigeria and Ecuador noted that in the face of global challenges, South-South Atlantic cooperation can enhance the collective influence of South Atlantic countries through strategic alliances in order to address global issues like climate change or economic inequality.

“A South Atlantic that will be able to benefit itself and the world at large shall promote South-South Atlantic cooperation and togetherness”, former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, said, adding that the South Atlantic “needs to go fast to catch up and to be sure not to lag behind.”

Obasanjo, the African Union (AU) High Representative for the Horn of Africa, called for creating an Atlantic Cooperation Organization, which will be started from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. “This will be an organization for peace, security and development,” he stressed.

“I believe that Morocco from Africa and Brazil from Latin America can lead this initiative,” he stressed, pointing out that this organization can become a strong and influential voice on the world stage.

For his part, former Ecuador’s president, Luis Osvaldo Hurtado Larrea, said that the South Atlantic shall promote its intra cooperation to actively shape and influence international geopolitical dynamics to ensure representation and address imbalances in the global decision-making process.

Tackling the intercontinental framework that could effectively showcase and advance Southern perspectives and interests, the former president highlighted the importance of economic partnership, notably through the signing of Free Trade Agreements that have boosted intra-regional cooperation and constitute key factors for progress.

Hurtado Larrea also pointed out that countries of the Global South are confronted with new opportunities, presenting a crucial opening to assert their newfound position for a more inclusive and balanced equilibrium.

The 12th edition of the Policy Center for the New South’s (PCNS) annual international conference, ‘The Atlantic Dialogues’, which kicked off on Thursday, echoed the call launched last November by King Mohammed VI to promote regional integration among African countries bordering the Atlantic, expressed backing of the Royal initiative, and welcomed the commitment of Morocco’s King to promoting Atlantic cooperation and Atlantic solidarity.

In his call, King Mohammed VI had urged for the development of port and fisheries infrastructure and African maritime fleets and stressed the need to helping landlocked nations in the Sahel access the ocean.
The King had emphasized the need for re-engineering the Atlantic geopolitical space at the African level, including the Moroccan Sahara coast.

“My goal is to transform the Atlantic region into a space for human interaction and economic integration, and to make sure it plays a key role at continental and international levels,” the King had said.

The 12th edition of Atlantic Dialogues which focused on the theme “A More Assertive Atlantic: Its Meaning for the World” gathered over 400 guests from 80 different nationalities across the Atlantic Basin to discuss various economic and geopolitical topics, reflecting the evolving landscape of a more interconnected and integrated Atlantic. Through candid, informal, and well-informed discussions, it aims to foster dialogues that could translate into tangible actions.