Atlantic Charter
Recently at their first meeting in the seaside resort of Carbis Bay, the two leaders, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson inspected documents related to the Atlantic Charter, a declaration signed by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in August 1941 setting out common goals for the world after World War II. Those goals included freer trade, disarmament and the right to self-determination for all.
Atlantic Charter
- The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration issued by the United States and Great Britain during World War II (1939–45), setting out a vision for the world after the war had ended.
- This manifesto was first issued on 14 August 1941, later it was followed by 26 Allied nations promising their support by January 1942.
- Its main points included the right of a nation to choose its own government, the easing of trade restrictions and the post-war disarmament convention. This document is considered to be the first important step towards the establishment of the United Nations, formed in 1945.
Key points covered in the Atlantic Charter:
- The United States and Britain agreed not to take any territorial gains from World War I, and opposed any territorial changes made against the wishes of the citizens concerned.
- Helping nations that were occupied by other countries, or the government was dissolved during the war, to form their own government. Citizens should have the right to choose their own government.
Source – The Hindu
