O Brasil e o Golfo da Guiné : reflexões para um maior protagonismo da MB no entorno estratégico brasileiro

Abstract

The increasing exploitation of natural resources in the region known as the Gulf of Guinea has driven foreign investments and heightened the presence of external powers, impacting the growth of maritime activities in that part of the ocean. However, the rise in illicit activities such as piracy and armed robbery at sea has drawn the attention of the international community, which has begun developing strategies aimed at safeguarding their interests and establishing “Good Order at Sea,” according to the concept employed by Professor Geoffrey Till. There is no consensus on the concept of maritime security, allowing for various approaches depending on the perspectives and interests of each analysis. These approaches are reflected in the maritime security strategies formulated by internal and external actors to employ their capabilities in defense of their interests. According to high-level strategic documents, the Gulf of Guinea is within Brazil’s strategic surroundings, a fundamental reason that validates the Brazilian Navy's interest in developing its own strategies to enhance its role in the region. In this context, analyzing the various maritime security strategies implemented in the Gulf of Guinea, particularly by the United States and the European Union and its Member States, enables the identification of challenges and opportunities for improving Brazil's naval strategy