During the ministerial meeting on the partnership for Atlantic cooperation, Nasser Bourita emphasized that the royal strategy, launched in 2022, represents an ambitious initiative aimed at promoting peace, stability, and shared prosperity in the Atlantic African region. Bourita explained that this initiative seeks to empower African countries to take ownership of their development paths, noting that the Atlantic front of Africa includes 23 countries, representing 40% of the continent’s population and 70% of African trade.
Bourita added that this area is rich in opportunities in key sectors such as tourism and mineral resources, but it also faces significant challenges, such as terrorism, climate change, and over-exploitation of marine resources. Regarding the Rabat process, the minister mentioned the establishment of a secretariat headquarters in Rabat and the adoption of an action plan, as well as the creation of a forum for ministers of justice. He confirmed that the action plans of the three thematic groups will be revised during the next ministerial meeting, with a focus on taking concrete actions in the areas of security, blue economy, energy, and climate change.
Bourita also stressed the commitment of Atlantic African countries to enhance partnership with other initiatives, aiming to achieve a stable and prosperous Atlantic region. He commended the efforts of the United States to unify the efforts of Atlantic countries, asserting that addressing challenges cannot be done individually.
In concluding his remarks, Bourita noted that “coordinating efforts among our complementary initiatives will enable us to serve the interests of the Atlantic space with the aim of promoting shared prosperity and stability,” emphasizing the importance of a strong partnership to support the implementation of common goals.
It is worth mentioning that the ministerial meeting on partnership for Atlantic cooperation was held within the framework of the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
