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Atlanticism

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For the belief in the legendary island civilization, see: Atlantis.

Atlanticism is a philosophy of cooperation among Western EuropeanNorth American nations (specifically the United States and Canada) regarding political, economic, and defense issues, with the purpose to maintain the security of the participating countries, and to protect the values that unite them: "democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law."^[1][2] One who shares the idea of Atlanticism is known as an Atlantist or an Atlanticist; the name derives from the Atlantic Ocean that separates the two continents — and or, as sea-faring nations will say, the ocean that connects the two continents. Atlanticism is alien to continentalism.

The North Atlantic Council is the premier, governmental forum for discussion and decision-making in an Atlantic context. Well-known Atlanticists include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, current British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Zbigniew Brzezinski and Javier Solana. NATO is an Atlanticist organization, and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is an Atlanticist project. Leaders of Eastern European countries such as Poland and Romania profess a strong Atlanticist view - one does not have to live in Western Europe (or North America) to be an Atlanticist.^[3]

Atlanticism has undergone significant changes in the 21st century in light of terrorism and the Iraq war, the net effect being a renewed questioning of the idea itself and a new insight that the security of the respective countries may require alliance action outside the North Atlantic territory.