Brazil’s Maritime Strategy in the South Atlantic: The Nexus Between Security and Resources

This research paper examines Brazil's strategic shift toward the South Atlantic, driven by the discovery of pre-salt oil and gas reserves. It details Brazil's efforts to secure these resources through naval modernization, legal claims to extend its continental shelf, and expanded military cooperation with African nations to establish a regional identity and deter outside powers.

• The discovery of significant oil and gas deposits in pre-salt layers has led Brazil to reframe its national defence strategy, focusing on the South Atlantic to protect these resources from the 'envious attention of other powers'.
• Brazil is pursuing a significant naval modernization program to enhance its deterrent power, highlighted by the development of a nuclear-propulsion attack submarine in cooperation with France, expected to be commissioned in 2023.
• To secure exclusive access to maritime resources, Brazil has filed a proposal with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) to expand its national waters by approximately 900,000 km² based on a redefinition of its continental shelf.
• The Brazilian government has implemented the 'Blue Amazon' campaign to foster a 'maritime mentality' among its population, using educational materials to justify increased defence spending and the strategic importance of the sea.
• Brazil is expanding military cooperation with West African nations to create a 'goodwill belt', providing training, vessels, and equipment to countries such as Namibia, Angola, and Nigeria.
• Brazil is attempting to revive the South Atlantic Peace and Co-operation Zone (Zopacas) to promote a regional identity and assert that primary responsibility for the area belongs to bordering countries, specifically questioning NATO's role in the region.

APA

Erthal, A., Abdenur, & Neto, D. M. D. S. (2013). Brazil’s Maritime Strategy in the South Atlantic: The Nexus Between Security and Resources. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Occasional-Paper-161.pdf

Chicago

Erthal, Adriana, Abdenur, and Danilo Marcondes de Souza Neto. Brazil’s Maritime Strategy in the South Atlantic: The Nexus Between Security and Resources. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Occasional-Paper-161.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Erthal |first1=Adriana |last2=Abdenur |last3=Neto |first3=Danilo Marcondes de Souza |title=Brazil’s Maritime Strategy in the South Atlantic: The Nexus Between Security and Resources |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=November 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Occasional-Paper-161.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{erthal2013brazils, author = {Erthal, Adriana and Abdenur and Neto, Danilo Marcondes de Souza}, title = {{Brazil’s Maritime Strategy in the South Atlantic: The Nexus Between Security and Resources}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Occasional-Paper-161.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }