The United States and the United Kingdom have recently announced the Atlantic Declaration for a 21st Century U.S.-UK Economic Partnership. This collaboration aims to adapt, reinforce, and reimagine the longstanding alliance between the two nations to effectively meet current challenges head-on.
Atlantic Declaration: An Overview
Intended to bolster defence, security, science, technology, and economic sectors, the Atlantic Declaration is centred around constructing a resilient, diversified, and secure supply chain that reduces strategic dependencies. By leveraging advancements in energy transitions and technology, the partnership strives for shared growth, enhanced employment opportunities, and community upliftment.
Atlantic Declaration Action Plan (ADAPT)
ADAPT provides a thorough strategy aimed at augmenting economic growth, competitiveness, and resilience while considering workers, businesses, climate, and national security needs. The plan incorporates five critical pillars and plans to conduct regular high-level meetings to facilitate progress and escalate ambition over time.
Five Pillars of ADAPT
The pillars include Leadership in Critical and Emerging Technologies, where both nations share best practices in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. Cooperation on Economic Security and Technology Protection involves sharing information and best practices on cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, and technology governance. Partnering on an Inclusive and Responsible Digital Transformation means collaborating on digital skills training and workforce development. The remaining two pillars focus on building the clean energy economy of the future and strengthening the alliance across defense, health security, and space.
Historical Significance of the U.S.-UK Partnership
The partnership between the US and the UK has been crucial in leading global issues. The signing of the Atlantic Charter in 1941 established the groundwork for a rule-based international order. The New Atlantic Charter, signed in 2021, reaffirmed the commitment to shared values and refreshed the partnership vision.
Political Affairs
Being close allies in NATO, as well as other multilateral organizations such as the UN, G7, and G20, has given the two countries a strong political alliance.
Economic Ties
The United States is the largest direct investor in the United Kingdom, which reciprocally is also the single biggest investor in the United States, indicating strong economic ties.
Security and Defense Cooperation
With a rich history of joint military operations and intelligence sharing that dates back to World War I and II, the U.S. and UK have strong security and defense cooperation. They are part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, along with Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Moreover, significant steps have been taken to implement AUKUS, including supporting Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The U.S.-UK Indo-Pacific Dialogue promotes closer coordination to support a free and open region. This collaboration extends to ASEAN, Pacific Islands, and trilateral joint exercises, contributing to regional peace, stability, and technological advancement.
The Role of AUKUS
The new tri-nation partnership, AUKUS, is aimed at countering China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. The strength and impact of AUKUS in the present scenario is being seen through various lenses. It raises questions about whether it will supersede the existing partnerships in the region, but this only time will tell.