Marrakech Hosts 12th Atlantic Dialogues on Dec. 14-16

The 12th Atlantic Dialogues, an annual international conference of the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), will take place from December 14 to 16, 2023, in Marrakech, under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI. Themed “A More Assertive Atlantic: Its Meaning for the World,” this edition is expected to bring together over 400 guests from 80 different nationalities around the Atlantic basin, as stated by the PCNS in a press release. The conference, distinguished by its scale and diversity, aligns with the Royal High Directions and Guidelines on the Atlantic Africa outlined in the speech of HM King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Green March. It aims to reflect the growing importance of the Atlantic space in the current global context. The conference also aims to deepen the understanding of the implications of the new perception of this space, emphasizing the promotion of Atlantic cooperation, considered essential for economic and social development, especially for the countries in the southern Atlantic. This cooperation can provide a coordinated response to challenges such as climate transition and contribute to peace and security in the region. Taking into account ongoing regional integration dynamics, the approach of the extended Atlantic can make a useful contribution to the necessary reinvention of global governance and a new articulation of North-South and South-South cooperation logics. Furthermore, this twelfth edition will provide a platform for discussing a variety of economic and geopolitical topics, reflecting the changes in an expanded and more integrated Atlantic through frank, informal, and factually informed exchanges, fostering discussions that can lead to concrete actions. Among the themes to be addressed are discussions on the future of strategic partnerships and multilateralism, the emergence of the global South, the redesign of the international financial architecture, current challenges to democracy, and the issues of technological change for sustainable transition. Over its eleven previous editions, the Atlantic Dialogues conference has been distinguished by its ability to bring together a diverse group of international actors. This year, it will convene a community of over 2000 members for in-depth discussions through plenary sessions and small group discussions. The conference will culminate with the presentation of the tenth “Atlantic Currents” report from the Policy Center for the New South, analyzing recent trends in the Atlantic basin. Prominent speakers, including former heads of state, ministers, diplomats, researchers, and representatives of think tanks, will enrich the debate during ten plenary sessions and twenty small group sessions. These discussions will facilitate frank and informal exchanges, promising in-depth debates on the main theme while benefiting from the intercontinental expertise of the Atlantic Dialogues, emphasizes the press release. Additionally, the Emerging Leaders program (ADEL), whose purpose resonates with the ambition of youth, selects 30 to 50 young individuals aged 35 or younger each year from hundreds of applications worldwide. These visionary youth represent 26 nationalities, with a predominance of 70% from the Atlantic region, according to the same source. Following an intensive three-day training focused on leadership and design thinking to address the challenges of the extended Atlantic, delivered by renowned experts, the new ADEL members will join the conference. They will be particularly honored during the closing ceremony.