Atlantic Dialogues 2025: Redefining North-South Partnerships Beyond Traditional Models
The Atlantic Dialogues 2025 conference, held at the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), sparked intense discussions on the future of North-South partnerships. The panel, titled 'North-South Atlantic Partnerships: Managing Expectations and Realities', brought together a diverse group of policymakers and analysts from Southeast Asia, Latin America, and North Africa.
The event challenged the conventional dependency-driven cooperation models, advocating for sovereignty, regional integration, and mutually beneficial partnerships. Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN, Omar Hilale, took center stage, emphasizing the country's role as a strategic bridge connecting the North and South across the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Africa, and the Americas.
Hilale argued that Morocco's unique geography grants it both responsibility and leverage in shaping Atlantic cooperation. He highlighted Morocco's recent efforts in supplying electricity to Spain and Portugal during power disruptions, demonstrating the interdependence between the two Atlantic shores. Morocco's diplomacy, rooted in South-South cooperation, is a testament to King Mohammed VI's vision, with numerous cooperation agreements spanning agriculture, finance, telecommunications, training, and security across Africa.
'Security is the foundation of development,' Hilale asserted, underscoring Morocco's initiatives in the Sahel. He introduced the concept of an Atlantic corridor, designed to connect landlocked countries to ports, infrastructure, and regional value chains, while bolstering stability along transportation routes.
The ambassador also showcased Morocco's leadership in Atlantic African coastal cooperation, uniting 23 countries to tackle maritime security, climate change, coastal erosion, fisheries training, and infrastructure development. Furthermore, Morocco is establishing itself as a regional hub for AI cooperation through a UN-backed initiative, aiming to support African countries in crafting national AI strategies.
Hilale emphasized Africa's need to move beyond raw material exports, advocating for industrialization, manufacturing, and the retention of human capital. He warned against the 'natural resources curse' and called for value-added production and technology development across the continent.
Astanah Abdul Aziz, deputy secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), presented Southeast Asia as a model of flexible regionalism, emphasizing sovereignty over ideological alignment. ASEAN, now comprising 11 developing countries, includes monarchies, democracies, socialist governments, and a military regime. Abdul Aziz rejected the notion that democracy is the sole legitimate governance model, stating, 'Countries are sovereign; they must determine their own paths.'
ASEAN, one of the world's largest economies, aims to become the fourth-largest globally by 2030. The bloc maintains 11 dialogue partnerships with countries and entities, including China, the US, the European Union, India, and Japan, focusing on capacity-building projects rather than cash-based aid. 'We welcome partners, not friends, where the relationship is mutually beneficial,' Abdul Aziz stated.
She highlighted initiatives such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world's largest free-trade agreement, efforts to double ASEAN's digital economy to USD 2 trillion by 2030, and plans for a regional power grid, enabling least-developed members to become major energy suppliers.
Renato Flores, director of the International Intelligence Unit at Brazil's Fundação Getulio Vargas, urged Global South countries to reevaluate their engagement with the North in trade and resource allocation. Instead of exporting raw materials under traditional arrangements, Flores advocated for leveraging strategic minerals and commodities to secure specific technologies and best practices tailored to national needs.
'Let's weaponize our trade,' Flores suggested, drawing inspiration from China's use of rare earths to illustrate how resource control can reshape global power dynamics. He cautioned against rigid, outdated North-South agreements, labeling some long-standing trade deals as 'zombies' that no longer serve Southern economies. Flores emphasized the significance of regional groups like ASEAN, BRICS, and the African Union in fostering trade integration, food security, poverty reduction, and regional financial systems.
Additionally, he warned against uncritical adoption of digitalization and efficiency narratives, cautioning that dependency on global digital systems could lead to new forms of North-South dependency. 'Avoid becoming slaves to the masters of algorithms,' Flores advised, 'Utilize digital tools when they serve your interests.'
