Atlantic Nations”

Atlantic Nations” refers to a group of 42 countries across four continents (North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean) that have joined together in the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation.

Launched in late 2023 and becoming highly active in 2025–2026, this is the first multilateral organization of its kind to treat the Atlantic Ocean as a single, shared region rather than a divider between continents.

1. Key Member Nations:

The partnership includes a diverse mix of global powers and developing coastal states. Notable members include:

• North America: United States, Canada.

• Europe: United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Iceland.

• South America: Brazil, Argentina.

• Africa: Morocco, Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon.

• Caribbean: Dominican Republic, Belize.

2. Core Objectives (The “Blue” Agenda):

The group works on three main “lines of effort” to manage the Atlantic’s resources, which support over a billion people:

• Sustainable Blue Economy: Managing marine space and coastal resources to ensure long-term economic growth without destroying the ocean’s health.

• Science & Capacity Building: Sharing technology and data for ocean observation. For example, the U.S., Brazil, and Portugal co-chair efforts to track changing ocean temperatures and currents.

• Ocean-based Food Security: Focusing on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture (fish farming) to feed growing populations in Atlantic coastal states.

3. Recent 2026 Headlines: A Shift Toward Security:

While the group started with a focus on science and environment, recent news in February 2026 shows a shift toward hard security and sovereignty:

• Greenland Crisis: Tensions regarding Greenland and the “High North” have pushed Atlantic nations to coordinate more closely on Arctic security.

• Undersea Cables: The Atlantic is the world’s busiest data seaway. Member nations are increasingly focused on protecting the undersea internet cables that link the U.S. and Europe.

• NATO Synergy: On February 12, 2026, several Atlantic nations (including the UK, Canada, and the US) announced new naval deployments and “Arctic Sentry” missions to protect northern waters from Russian and Chinese influence.

Comparison: How it differs from NATO