The South Atlantic, Southern Africa and South America : cooperation and development

Abstract

The South Atlantic is becoming a strategic space in terms of development. The maritime usage on both shores of the ocean allows the exploration and the use, as well as the conservation and the management, of the natural resources of the seabed and the subsoil. The guarantee of economic rights, with the counterpart of duties and responsibilities of political nature, environmental and of public security, reflects the possibility of control over and area rich in natural resources and that, at the same time, becomes vulnerable to international pressures of all kinds. The research objectives are: a) analyze the geo-economic importance of the ocean due the increasing exploration of this space; b) analyze the new geopolitical reality, because the South Atlantic was converted into a strategic route of passage and development pole; and, c) analyze its geostrategic relevance by establishing a connection with Asia via Indian Ocean, highlighting the role of South Africa and IBSA.