A Atuação do “AFRICOM” na África Ocidental: reflexos para a Marinha do Brasil

Abstract

In response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States of America concentrated its attention and forces on the elimination of the al-Qaeda terrorist network, as well as the surveillance of Muslim fundamentalist elements worldwide, most notably through a heightened presence and military reach in the Middle East and Africa. Thisproject will analyze whether the operations of the United States, through the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), in the countries of West Africa are convergent or divergent with the interests of Brazil, and in particular with the Brazilian Navy, in this geographic region. Through historical and geopolitical analysis of these countries and their respective policies in the South Atlantic, the mutual and disparate interests and security threats of West Africa and its coast for Brazil and the United States will be identified. Further, to best understand the operations of AFRICOM in this region and the implications for the Brazilian Navy, the organizational and operational structure of the US military will be described in depth with particular emphasis on the role of AFRICOM within this structure.