Cooperação naval e a segurança marítima do Atlântico Sul: o caso de acordo de cooperação Brasil-Namíbia (1994/2010)

Abstract

This research focuses on the Namibian - Bra zilian Naval Cooperation Agreement (ACNBN), signed in 1994, which remains effective until now. By this agreement , Brazilian Navy cooperates with the creation, organization and development of the Namibian Navy. This a greement a ttracts attention, among other factors , for becom ing the main axis of the relationship between Brazil and Namibia, countries that until then had not developed any cultural ties or other perceivable affinities. This f act acquires even greater relevance when considered in the context of South Atlantic maritime s ecurity , as naval cooperation agreements are essential tools for the development of trans national security architectures . Defining ACNBN as a case study, this investigation sought to verify if , among the motivations that led the tw o countries to sign it and to keep it going until now , aspects concerning the South Atlantic maritime security were relevant , as well as, if that agreement resulted from articulated strategic initiatives of the Brazilian foreign and defense policies, aimin g at the preservation of the maritime security in South Atlantic. The process tracing of the ACNBN and the analysis of the Brazilian and Namibian contexts that conditioned its dealings demonstrated that , from the Namibian perspective, maritime security was a priority . That was not the case of Brazil , in which prevailed concern s about Brazilian naval power projection on the Africa’s West Coast, as well as expectations of commercial gains. It also r emained evident that the articulation between the Brazilian f oreign and defens e policies, in the case of the ACNBN was, if non - existent, incipient.