Pirataria e "novas ameaças": estratégias de cooperação para prevenção e combate:o papel da Marinha do Brasil no combate à pirataria e roubo armado contra navios no Golfo da Guiné

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to propose a Brazilian Navy‟s role in anti - piracy operations and armed robbery against ships in the Gulf of Guinea. The origins of piracy are confused with the maritime transportation of wealth and goods. The piracy phenomenon was almost extinct, but it was once again intensified in Somalia, b ecause of its weak State condition, and the oil theft in the Gulf of Guinea. After de cold war, Brazil has become more relevant in the new world order and has been experiencing sensible changes in its regional role, aspiring to increase its specific weight in international relations. Therefore, the international security issues, especially those that afflict states within its strategic environment, can not go unnoticed. The sectarian tension in the Middle East made the big energy consumers, like the U.S. an d the European Union , look for stable free markets. In this context, the Gulf of Guinea presents itself as a strategic alternative to those powers. Aware of the geopolitical importance of the South Atlantic and concerned with exogenous interference in its strategic environment, the Brazilian Foreign Policy has established the South American integration and closer political and economic relations with African states as a priori objectives. The intensification of pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, that may jeopar dize local maritime transportation and in the South Atlantic ocean, should be monitored carefully, because at the same time, which presents itself as an opportunity for Brazilian interests, can also constitute a threat, paving the way for external interfer ence. In this scenario, the securitization of piracy and armed robbery against ships is a possibility, and can serve as a justification to meet the interests of extra - regional powers. The limited capacity of the Navies and Coast Guards of Gulf of Guinea St ates indicates the impossibility of maintaining maritime security in the region without external support. Despite the situation suggest that the Brazilian Navy, as an instrument of foreign policy action, should take a proactive stance in combating piracy i n the Gulf of Guinea, the great logistical effort required, legal problems related to detention, extradition and prosecution of suspected pirates, the fragility of the Gulf of Guinea states, the restrictions of the Brazilian Navy, point to a cooperative ac tion with these countries, but without the use of naval units.