Par Cherkaoui Roudani
During the celebration of the 48th anniversary of the Green March, His Majesty King Mohammed VI presented an ambitious vision for the future of the Atlantic, addressing both geostrategic and geopolitical aspects. This perspective aims to create a community of destiny, an innovative approach to conceiving the Atlantic as a geostrategic space called to play a leading role in the future. However, this real initiative requires renewed reflection and strategy from African leaders to seize the opportunities offered by global geoeconomic dynamics.
If geostrategy explores the complex links between geography, power and politics on a global scale, it must be said that Morocco’s privileged geographical position offers opportunities to strengthen African countries that aspire to integrate into the world economy. However, it is clear that the implementation of this Atlantic geostrategy will not be without challenges.
Therefore, one of the major contemporary challenges lies in the confrontation between two great power forces, which impact the overall strategy of African realignment on the international stage. In this sense, it is essential to harmonize territorial and maritime power to create a regional dynamic capable of fully exploiting the resources of African lands and the geopolitical potential that this region offers. Indeed, a mechanical and dynamic approach to galvanizing Africa’s collective power is an absolute necessity for the geopolitical reconstruction of this space.
Theoretically, Halford Mackinder developed a concept according to which continental power is rooted in vast territories, abundant resources and population density, thus conceiving the entire Europe-Asia-Africa as the “world island”. This area concentrates approximately two-thirds of the world’s wealth and the planet’s population. However, in the context of evolving geopolitical and military dynamics, the concept of the “pivot zone” has changed, thus shifting the new Heartland towards Africa. This continent, with its natural riches and its dynamic population, presents itself in the near future as a potential bridge between the European economy and the safe routes followed by American and Asian industry.
In contrast, maritime power is based on the dominion of the seas, oceans and trade routes. Nations or regions with this power place paramount importance on controlling strategic waterways, maritime trade, and projecting their influence through these sea lanes. Their power derives from the ability to control and exploit the seas for commercial, military and diplomatic exchanges: one can therefore understand the tension between the American strategy for the Indo-Pacific and the Chinese One Belt One Road initiative.
Consequently, the confrontation between these two forms of power raises crucial questions in African geostrategy. It raises questions related to the security of trade routes, competition for control of coastal areas and national defense according to these two opposing paradigms. Furthermore, this duality of powers has a direct impact on international relations, shaping alliances, potential conflicts and diplomatic strategies adopted by nations that aspire to be part of this “strategic corridor” initiated by the royal initiative.
It is essential to decode this interaction between land force and maritime force to understand the mechanisms of power on a global scale. Therefore, the strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia for a project that will connect India, Europe and the Middle East fits into this geopolitical vision and risks giving rise to tensions and rivalries. It should be noted that many conflicts appear to be political, when in reality they arise from differences in underlying economic interests.
These interactions will therefore allow us to examine geopolitical tensions, defense strategies, trade flows and the way in which these two forms of power influence and oppose each other in the global geopolitical landscape.
According to what Edgar Morin called “unitas multiplex”, underlining a fundamental principle according to which a complex system is not born in isolation, but rather from the interaction and integration between its different constituent parts, as well as from the relationships that exist between these parts, long before the complete system takes shape. Indeed, the Atlantic, this geopolitical space in full metamorphosis, is influenced by various strategic doctrines that interact in complexity to shape it.
Historically and currently, the Atlantic Ocean, the second largest after the Pacific, remains an important pivot for the construction of the North Atlantic geopolitical strategy, anchored in the alliances between the United States and Europe. However, while the Atlantic remains a protective shield for the United States, it has remained more of a historical myth than a concrete political project, lacking the ramifications necessary to position it as a tangible geostrategic reality. A central aspect of the divergence within this space lies in the economic, social and cultural divide between the North and the South. Although globalization appears to have blurred boundaries, the economic imbalance between these two poles remains a source of misunderstanding and tension. This reality is accentuated with the appearance of a New Regionalism deviated from its mission and vocation. This is why Morocco, through the Royal Initiative, proposes a “new regionalism” with a contemporary approach to regional integration and cooperation between African nations starting from the integration of the Sahel into the Atlantic. Unlike traditional regionalism, which often focused on economic collaboration through trading blocs or political alliances of powerful states, new regionalism imbued with real vision encompasses a broader range of interconnected issues and goals.
In this sense, this new modern form of regionalism goes beyond economic concerns and extends to various areas such as politics, security, social development, cultural exchange and environmental sustainability. It emphasizes a more global and multidimensional approach to addressing the shared challenges and opportunities within this region that remains isolated and abandoned for some time. It encourages political dialogue, joint decision-making and sharing of appropriate resources to address common issues such as trade liberalization, infrastructure development, migration management, climate change and security threats. Therefore, faced with the stagnation of approaches aimed at the unification of Africa and its regional and continental integration, and while global issues such as the energy crisis, food security and climate change are assuming increasing dimensions and importance, it is time that African countries embark on a more ambitious path with a perspective that aims to establish an interactive approach through political, economic and cultural exchanges. To do this, the Royal Atlantic Initiative presents a new regionalism with a holistic vision involving flexible and scalable working frameworks that facilitate cooperation between the nations involved while respecting each country’s individual sovereignty
Consequently, this Moroccan initiative represents a historic starting point for continental integration and the adhesion of African countries to the Atlantic dynamic. His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in fact, has outlined a global structure that integrates ecological, economic and political dimensions to promote exchanges between the continents and the different civilizations surrounding the Atlantic Ocean.
In a world of profound change, the Atlantic, once witness to tripartite trade between America, Africa and Europe, remains a point of crucial strategic interest. This body of water is much more than just a maritime area. It represents a central element in global geopolitics, with important implications for trade, politics and the environment.
As a result, the South Atlantic, bounded by South America and Africa, is an essential shipping route connecting three continents. Its natural resources, its ports and its geographical position make it a central axis of world trade. Morocco, with its privileged geographical position, is emerging as a key player in connecting these continents. This is why, by taking advantage of its strategic position, Morocco can enhance intercontinental trade. By developing its port infrastructure, Rabat would strengthen its regional and international connectivity, thereby promoting maritime trade and economic exchanges. Therefore, the economic policy initiated through the new development model of the southern provinces of Morocco fits into this development strategy that will allow the Sahel countries to have advantageous access to the Atlantic. This is why the modernization of Moroccan ports, in particular the Atlantic port of Dakhla, is fundamental to project Morocco onto the African and international scene.
Committed to environmental sustainability, Morocco can also become a defender of Atlantic marine ecosystems. This vision would contribute to the preservation of the environment and strengthen Rabat’s international image as a leader in sustainability.
In this regard, His Majesty King Mohammed VI with his Atlantic strategy has laid the foundations of a new geopolitical doctrine for the South Atlantic. This approach includes partnerships with an international dimension, such as the strategic pact signed with the United Arab Emirates, and large-scale projects, such as the gas pipeline connecting Nigeria and Morocco, with the aim of establishing regional stability and allowing the Sahel countries to take take advantage of emerging opportunities across the Atlantic. This is a meticulous strategy that could also reshape the green hydrogen industry by establishing a strategic corridor connecting several West African countries to the European continent. Indeed, the goal of this real international initiative is to catalyze sustainable development, prosperity and stability in the Sahel-Saharan region and the West African region as a whole.
2024-01-11 15:21:30
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