Transatlantic relations

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (March 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Atlantic Ocean

Transatlantic relations refer to the historic, cultural, political, economic and social relations between countries on both side of the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes it specifically means relationships between the Anglophone North American countries (the United States and Canada), and particular European countries or organizations, although other meanings are possible.

There are a number of issues over which the United States and Europe generally disagree. Some of these are cultural, such as the U.S. use of the death penalty, some are international issues such as the Middle East peace process where the United States is often seen as pro-Israel and where Europe is often seen as pro-Arab (or at least neutral), and many others are trade related. The current U.S. policies are often described as being unilateral in nature, whereas the European Union and Canada are often said to take a more multilateral approach, relying more on the United Nations and other international institutions to help solve issues. There are many other issues upon which they agree.^[1]

Definition[]

One potential definition of transatlantic relations. The United States (in red), Canada (in green), the European Union (in blue). Excluded from this definition are non-EU states in Europe, and all of Latin America and Africa.

It is proposed to create a Transatlantic Free Trade Area between the United States and European Union. Map shows potential other members: NAFTA, EFTA and future EU members.

Transatlantic relations can refer to relations between individual states or to relations between groups of states or international organizations with other groups or with states, or within one group. For example:
Within a group:

• Intra-NATO relations

e.g. Canada–NATO relations

Between groups:

• EU - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) relations
• European Free Trade Area (EFTA) - NAFTA relations
• Transatlantic Free Trade Area (theoretical)
• CARIFORUM - European Commission (Economic Partnership Agreements)

Between a group and a state:

• Canada–European Union relations
• United States–European Union relations
• Canada - EFTA Free Trade Agreement ^[2][3]

Between states:

• Germany–United States relations
• Canada–France relations, etc.

By language and culture

• Commonwealth of Nations
• Community of Portuguese Language Countries
• Dutch Union
• La Francophonie
• Latin Union

The boundaries of which states are part of Transatlantic relations depends on the context. The term may be used as a euphemism to a specific bilateral relationship, for example, Anglo-American relations. The boundary could be drawn so as only to refer member states of the EU plus the US, when discussing Euro-American relations. In other circumstances it may include Canada, or non-EU countries in Europe. The term may also be used in the context of the wider Atlantic world including Africa and Latin America.

History[]

The triangular trade in the North Atlantic

The early relationship between Europe and America was based on colonialism and merchantilism. The majority of modern states in the Americas can be traced back to colonial states that were founded by European nations, states that were very different from the pre-Columbian civilizations and cultures that had existed before.

Even after the United States (and later Canada) became independent, the main relationship between the two continents was one-way migration.

Politically the United States tried to keep a distance from European affairs, and Canada was subordinate to British foreign policy.

During the First World War however both North American states found themselves fighting in Europe and engrossed in European politics. President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points helped to redraw the map of Europe.

Although the Roosevelt administration wanted to enter the war against Germany, the vast majority of Americans were too isolationist and disillusioned at their experience in World War I to seek involvement in the World War II, at least until the U.S. was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and Adolf Hitler declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941. Once involved, the US became pivotal to the war effort and therefore European politics.

After the second war the United States and Canada both desired a permanent role in the defence of Europe, and European states wanted protection from the Soviet Union. The result was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which became the lynchpin of Transatlantic relations during the Cold War.^[1]

Atlanticism is a philosophy which advocates for close cooperation between North America and Europe.

National participation in the principal European and trans-Atlantic defence arrangements^{[citation needed]}

State	European Union			NATO	Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation
	Membership	Common Security and Defence Policy
		General participation	Permanent Structured Cooperation
Albania	Candidate	No	No	2009	No
Austria	1995	Founder	Founder	No	No
Belgium	Founder	Founder	Founder	Founder	2003
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Candidate	No	No	Membership Action Plan	No
Bulgaria	2007	2007	Founder	2004	No
Canada	No	No	No	Founder	No
Cyprus	2004	2007	Founder	No	No
Croatia	2013	2013	Founder	2009	No
Czech Republic	2004	2004	Founder	1999	No
Denmark	1973	No	No	Founder	No
Estonia	2004	2004	Founder	2004	No
Finland	1995	Founder	Founder	No	Partial
France	Founder	Founder	Founder	Founder	Founder
Germany	Founder	Founder	Founder	1955	Founder
Greece	1981	Founder	Founder	1952	No
Hungary	2004	2004	Founder	1999	No
Iceland	No	No	No	Founder	No
Ireland	1973	Founder	Founder	No	No
Italy	Founder	Founder	Founder	Founder	Founder
Kosovo	No	No	No	No	No
Latvia	2004	2004	Founder	2004	No
Lithuania	2004	2004	Founder	2004	Partial
Luxembourg	Founder	Founder	Founder	Founder	Partial
Malta	2004	2004	No	No	No
Montenegro	Candidate	No	No	2017	No
Netherlands	Founder	Founder	Founder	Founder	Partial
North Macedonia	Candidate	No	No	2020	No
Norway	No	EDA partnership	No	Founder	No
Poland	2004	2004	Founder	1999	Partial
Portugal	1986	Founder	Founder	Founder	No
Romania	2007	2007	Founder	2004	No
Serbia	Candidate	EDA partnership	No	Individual Partnership Action Plan	No
Slovakia	2004	2004	Founder	2004	No
Slovenia	2004	2004	Founder	2004	No
Spain	1986	Founder	Founder	1982	Founder
Sweden	1995	Founder	Founder	No	Partial
Switzerland	No	EDA partnership	No	No	No
Turkey	Candidate	No	No	1952	Partial
Ukraine	No	EDA partnership	No	No	No
United Kingdom	No	No	No	Founder	Founder
United States	No	No	No	Founder	No

See also[]

• Atlanticism
• Atlantic Community
• Atlantic Council
• Atlantic history
• United States–European Union relations
• European Union–NATO relations
• German Marshall Fund
• South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone
• Transatlantic Economic Council
• Transatlantic Free Trade Area (TAFTA)
• Canada–European Union relations
• Canada–NATO relations
• Western World

References[]

External links[]

• Center for Transatlantic Relations

Bibliography[]

• Jussi M. Hanhimaki, Benedikt Schoenborn and Barbara Zanchetta, "Transatlantic Relations since 1945. An Introduction", Routledge, London, 2012.

External links[]

• A stronger EU-US Partnership and a more open market for the 21st century^{[permanent dead link]}
• European Union Institute for Security Studies: The Obama Moment - European and American Perspectives
• Atlantic Council of the U.S.: Transatlantic Cooperation Against Terrorism
• Atlantic Council publications on transatlantic economics, security, and politics
• "The Invisible Pillar of Transatlantic Cooperation: Activating Untapped Science & Technology Assets," Science & Diplomacy
• R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, called on the U.S. and Europe to embrace common purpose around an ambitious global agenda that would redefine its mission for the 21st Century.