Brazil and the Economic Explanation for the Securitisation of the South Atlantic

This paper contends that the resurgence of interest for South Atlantic dynamics amidst Brazilian official discourse and the subsequent securitization of this area have been significantly driven by economic considerations, including the role of governmental industrial and trade goals as well as effective lobbying by the private sector, interested in entering or expanding their presence in Africa. Hence, by evidencing these factors, it is shown how the evolution of Brazilian strategic and defence goals was molded by the geographic opportunities of its international economic insertion agenda, thus demonstrating the linkages between Brazil’s security involvement and the need to provide protection and guaranties to its growing or established economic interests in the region.