Publication of the 11th Edition of the “Atlantic Currents” Report

The Atlantic Currents report, a flagship publication of the Policy Center for the New South, is released annually ahead of each edition of the international conference “Atlantic Dialogues,” offers interdisciplinary analyses from experts across the broader Atlantic region.

The 11th edition of this report features contributions from 25 authors representing various Atlantic regions (Central and North America, the Caribbean, Northern and Southern Europe, North Africa, and West Africa).

Coordinated by Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki, a Senior Fellow at the Policy Center, the report explores strategic, economic, social, and environmental issues impacting the Atlantic region within a global context marked by geopolitical tensions and profound transformations.

It addresses threats and challenges confronting Atlantic basin states and highlights opportunities emerging across this space. In their contributions, the authors provide insights into pressing issues in the Global South, including North-South consensus, geostrategic and geo-economic challenges, economic integration, energy, climate, migration, food security, and stability in the Afro-Atlantic region, proposing pathways for enhanced cooperation among basin countries.

The 2024 edition is distinguished by the introduction of the Atlantic Currents Map initiative, a detailed cartography of the 23 African Atlantic coastal states, showcasing their strategic potential and interdependencies within a globalized framework. This mapping exercise analyzes critical factors for development, such as infrastructure, natural resources, logistical and trade corridors, environmental dynamics, and the contributions of Special Economic Zones and free trade zones to regional competitiveness and integration.

A significant portion of the report focuses on the South Atlantic, particularly its African coastline. The content is structured into five sections addressing peace and security dynamics, prospects for integration and development, and the critical role of human development and social considerations in public policies.

The report examines the potential for a new paradigm of cooperation and partnership to foster mutual growth, trade integration, and regional solidarity amidst rising economic nationalism and protectionism.

Highlighting barriers to stronger interactions between the global North and the global South within the Atlantic, the report includes a study on the impact of the “new Cold War” on transatlantic relations and sheds light on North-South tensions stemming from the war in Ukraine, advocating for pragmatic approaches between these two poles.

In the realm of international trade, the report discusses the strategic rise of the Cape of Good Hope maritime route, which has gained prominence due to ongoing conflicts in the Near and Middle East, emphasizing the evolving dynamics of global trade routes. Several contributors agree that the Atlantic region should serve as a model of proactive collaboration, establishing partnerships that ensure shared stability and security, especially given the intensifying rivalry among major powers.

On prospects for South-South economic cooperation in agriculture, the report underscores the relevance of collaboration between Africa and Latin America to transport proven technological advancements and techniques into Africa, particularly from Brazil and Argentina, to boost productivity and achieve food self-sufficiency. Regarding migration management, the report highlights the potential of migration to enhance regional competitiveness through transatlantic educational partnerships, recommending talent retention and academic growth as levers for strengthening regional competitiveness.

The emergence of a fruitful and mutually beneficial transatlantic partnership depends on collective governance rooted in a commitment to sustainability and resilience to address cross-cutting challenges threatening the stability of Southern Atlantic countries, such as conflicts, terrorism, maritime piracy, and various forms of trafficking. In this context, several authors view the Royal Initiative as a strategic pivot for Atlantic and Sahel region integration and economic development. This initiative builds upon existing African integration frameworks and enriches them with its vertical and inter-regional dimensions.

They argue that it not only advances the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) but also aligns with the broader Vision 2063 for Africa’s development.