Transatlantic relations

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.

This article is about wider trans-atlantic relations. For US–EU bilateral relations, see United States–European Union relations.
Atlantic Ocean

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:

Between a group and a state:

Between states:

See also: Special Relationship and North Atlantic triangle

By language and culture

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
Further information: European colonization of the Americas, Atlantic slave trade, and Battle of the Atlantic
The triangular trade in the North Atlantic

The early relationship between Europe and America was based on colonialism and mercantilism. 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.

Further information: Atlantic Charter and Allies of WWII

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.

  Non-European countries
  Transcontinental countries
Comparison of the two main Euro-Atlantic defence organisations
   European Union
(in respect of its defence arm, the Common Security and Defence Policy)		  NATO
Mutual defence clause Article 42.7 of the consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union:

"If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. This shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States. [...]"

 Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty:

"The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them [on their territory] shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area. [...]"

  Political strategic organisation
Highest office High Representative (HR/VP) Secretary General
Principal decision-making body Foreign Affairs Council North Atlantic Council
Liaison body European External Action Service International Staff
Seat Kortenberg building (Brussels, Belgium) NATO headquarters (Brussels, Belgium)
  Military strategic organisation
Supreme commander Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Headquarters Military Planning and Conduct Capability (Brussels, Belgium) Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (Mons, Belgium)
Chair of chiefs of defence assembly Chairman of the European Union Military Committee Chair of the NATO Military Committee
Chiefs of defence assembly European Union Military Committee NATO Military Committee
Advisory body European Union Military Staff International Military Staff
  Membership Permanent Structured Cooperation Membership
Member states of both the EU and NATO
 Belgium Founder Founder Founder
 Bulgaria 2007 Founder 2004
 Croatia 2013 Founder 2009
 Czech Republic 2004 Founder 1999
 Denmark 1973 2023 Founder
 Estonia 2004 Founder 2004
 Finland 1995 Founder 2023
 France Founder Founder Founder
 Germany Founder Founder 1955
 Greece 1981 Founder 1952
 Hungary 2004 Founder 1999
 Italy Founder Founder Founder
 Latvia 2004 Founder 2004
 Lithuania 2004 Founder 2004
 Luxembourg Founder Founder Founder
 Netherlands Founder Founder Founder
 Poland 2004 Founder 1999
 Portugal 1986 Founder Founder
 Romania 2007 Founder 2004
 Slovakia 2004 Founder 2004
 Slovenia 2004 Founder 2004
 Spain 1986 Founder 1982
Non-NATO EU member states
 Austria 1995 Founder Partnership for Peace
 Cyprus 2004 Founder No
 Ireland 1973 Founder Partnership for Peace
 Malta 2004 No Partnership for Peace
 Sweden 1995 Founder Accession protocol signed
Non-EU NATO member states
 Albania Candidate — 2009
 Iceland No — Founder
 Montenegro Candidate — 2017
 North Macedonia Candidate — 2020
 Norway Defence Agency agreement — Founder
 Turkey  Candidate — 1952
 United Kingdom No — Founder
European countries outside both the EU and NATO
 Andorra  No — No
 Armenia  No — Individual Partnership Action Plan
 Azerbaijan  No — Individual Partnership Action Plan
 Belarus No — Partnership for Peace
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Candidate — Membership Action Plan
 Georgia Applicant / Potential candidate — Intensified Dialogue
 Kazakhstan  No — Individual Partnership Action Plan
 Kosovo Applicant / Potential candidate — No
 Liechtenstein  No — No
 Moldova Candidate — Individual Partnership Action Plan
 Monaco  No — No
 Russia  No — Partnership for Peace
 San Marino  No — No
 Serbia Candidate — Individual Partnership Action Plan
  Switzerland Defence Agency agreement — Partnership for Peace
 Ukraine Candidate — Intensified Dialogue
  Vatican City  No — No
NATO member states located in North America, which are therefore ineligible for EU membership
 Canada — — Founder
 United States — — Founder
Members of NATO's Partnership for Peace located outside Europe, which are therefore neither eligible for EU nor NATO membership
 Kyrgyzstan — — Partnership for Peace
 Tajikistan — — Partnership for Peace
 Turkmenistan — — Partnership for Peace
 Uzbekistan — — Partnership for Peace

See also

References
  1. Portero, Florentino (May 29, 2002). "Las relaciones transatlánticas" (in Spanish). Madrid: Elcano Royal Institute. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  2. EFTA Archived 2008-04-22 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Foreign Affairs Department, Canada". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-03-20.

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