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The South Atlantic is one of the regional areas of the global international
system that requires rules whose validity and effectiveness guarantee
the predominance of peace and stability in the relations between the countries
that make up or affect it.
It is a predominance that, as in any other regional space in the world,
is vulnerable to the development of factors that can lead to tendencies
towards confrontation and even war.
This is an area that has been very important in the development of relations
between the countries belonging to the region itself and between countries
that have played, and in many ways continue to play, a significant role
in regional stability and development. This is the case of the United
Kingdom, Spain, Portugal and France, to name but a few of the most relevant,
and of course the United States and Canada.
In this regard, a prestigious Spanish institution, the Real Instituto
Elcano, published a report last year entitled "Why Latin America
Matters", which makes concrete proposals that can contribute to advance
the strategic relationship between the European and Latin American regions.
(See the July 2023 issue of our newsletter "A practical contribution
to the strategic relations between the European Union and Latin America",
in which we presented some ideas that we believe are still valid today.
See also the mentioned report by the Real Instituto Elcano on www.realinstitutoelcano.org,
and the article by one of its authors, Carlos Malamud, published under
the same title in the section El Observador of the newspaper Perfil of
July 9, 2023).
The report by the Real Instituto Elcano raises an idea that deserves
attention: the need to consider the creation of an EU-Latin America Trade
and Technology Council (EU-LAC TTC). Sound arguments are put forward for
the functions that such a Council could perform. It is suggested that
it should be conceived as a high-level bilateral forum and, as such, as
an optimal starting point and unique platform for organizing bilateral
relations between the two regions, including the search for strategic
agreements to face global challenges.
It is noted that a similar Council already exists between the European
Union and the United States. Moreover, the report adds that an EU-LAC
TCA would mark an important milestone in the relations between the EU
and our own region, taking them to a higher and more complex level, and
thus deepening existing commitments (see www.relalinstitutoelcano.org).
The possibility of creating a space for cooperation between those countries
that have an impact on the South Atlantic region can be facilitated by
the presence of three relevant factors.
These factors are: first, that it can be considered a "zone of peace"
in terms of nuclear armament; second, that it exhibits multiple diversities,
and third, that it is endowed with valuable natural and cultural resources.
Perhaps the time has come to also consider the initiative to explore
the creation and implementation of rules that would guarantee a peaceful
relation between some of the nations with interests linked to the South
Atlantic.
This is certainly the case with the need to create the conditions to
make the Malvinas Islands the epicenter of one of the experiences of peace
and political stability in the area.
A concrete initiative like that of the Real Instituto Elcano could be
part of such an effort for peace in the South Atlantic. Together with
other possible ideas, it could contribute to the creation of a zone of
peace in a region that has shown a tendency towards conflict and even
war.
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