Maritime security and national development in Brazil: an appraisal of the Brazilian Navy

Abstract

The resource endowments in the maritime domains of littoral states offer benefits if properly protected and exploited for national advancement and well-being of the citizens. This underpins the imperatives of maritime security by relevant naval, marine, coastal and/or maritime forces in creating safe and secure atmosphere for stimulating and driving maritime socio-economics for enhanced national development. In Brazil, the Brazilian Navy (BN) seeks to provide adequate protection for the maritime domain and safeguard the maritime interest of Brazil through improved maritime security for enhanced national development. However, there are maritime threats that still seek undermine maritime security and impede national development. This necessitated this study titled: “Maritime Security and National Development in Brazil: An Appraisal of the Brazilian Navy”. The main objective of this study is to appraise the role of BN in providing maritime security with a view to proffering viable strategies for enhanced national development in Brazil. The methodology adopted in this study was essentially field research, with quantitative and qualitative analyses. A field survey was used to collect data from primary and secondary sources through administration of questionnaires, and interviews. The data collected were analysed qualitatively to arrive at deductions. These were in the light of the Structural Functional Theory (SFT), which states that a society exists by the functioning together of the entities that form it. The findings were presented descriptively using Tables and Annexes. The study established a direct relationship between maritime security and national development. It revealed some issues such as policy framework for maritime security and naval platforms among others. This revealed some challenges such as poor policy focus on domestic maritime security needs, insufficient Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) among others. Hence, the findings were that if all the issues including naval platforms among others were addressed, the provision of maritime security by BN will enhance national development in Brazil. The study proffered some strategies such as prioritised optimisation of SisGAAz, and domestic building of more OPV with supplementary acquisitions offshores among others. As such, it recommended that the BN should consider domestic building of more OPV with supplementary acquisitions offshores by First Quarter 2025. among others. If the strategies and recommendations are implemented, Brazil would reap significant benefits of improved maritime security regulation with enhanced national development in the country.