Hidrovia Paraguai-Paraná: sua importância para a geopolítica brasileira e para defesa nacional

Abstract

The Paraguay-Paraná Waterway is an important navigable watercourse which, by crossing the continent, unites the Member States of Mercosur and its associate member, Bolivia, offering opportunities for competitive transport and acting as an important instrument for achieving one of the current Brazilian foreign policy’s priorities, the consolidation of a stable, prosperous and integrated South America. Furthermore, the potential for economic and social developments and the richness of the region contribute for innumerous conflicting interests among neighbors’ countries and several organizations, governmental or not. So, it is possible that worsening existing conflicts, or arising new ones, would potentially pose a serious threat to the national security. The central idea of this study is the discussion of the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway’s relevance to the Brazilian geopolitics, in terms of South America integration and its importance for the national defense, emphasizing the assessment of current geopolitical situation of the Paraguay-Paraná basin and identifying opportunities and threats to the Brazilian Navy in the region.