country in the world wishes to effectively combat such threats, it is indispensable to
structure themselves appropriately, with a management and monitoring system
strengthened by partnerships, information sharing and cooperation with other institutions and the Navy.
A list of concrete outcomes of the political pressure exerted by the Blue Amazon
concept domestically include the negotiations to purchase 36 Grippen fighter jets
from the Swedish company SAAB;
133 and the founding of the AMAZUL S.A., the
public company established to promote, develop, transfer and maintain technologies
sensitive to the Brazilian Marine Nuclear Program (PNM), the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB), and the Brazilian Nuclear Program (PNB). In this
context, AMAZUL’s primary mission is to support the development of a nuclearpropelled submarine, a technological advancement taken as essential by Brazilian
strategists for the monitoring of Blue Amazon. In order to execute its projects and
offer technological services, the company has sought to attract qualified human
resources, a massive challenge in a developing economy which undergoes a severe
political and economic crisis.
134
The sovereignty and defense dimension of the Blue Amazon concept also informs
politico-strategic considerations for the South Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the concept
itself is essentially politico-strategic, both for international and domestic purposes, as
it locates maritime spaces in a decisive position for the dynamics of international
relations and the well-being of the Brazilian population. In a broader scenario, the
entire philosophy behind the narrative of a “Blue Amazon” points towards the use of
the oceans for national development and international cooperation. For that reason,
the Brazilian Navy equals the preparedness to defend the Blue Amazon as a
prerequisite for the country to exert geopolitical influence in the South Atlantic
Ocean, while attaining economic prosperity and social development. To those goals,
strategic projects of the Brazilian Navy have sought for a strong synergy with
academic, industrial and business sectors.
Regarding the international cooperation objective, capacity-building programs
have been designed and implemented, so as to stimulate cooperation with countries
such as South Africa, Namibia and others. The idea behind the curtains is to train
highly-qualified specialists in different fields of knowledge, as well as to foster
coordination between the navies of the countries involved. In fact,
133 The Brazilian Air Force signed a contract in 2014 with the Swedish company SAAB to acquire
36 Grippen NG fighter jets, in a total investment of approximately US$ 4.05 billion. The first
aircraft was delivered in 2019, and the last one should occur in 2026. The contract involves the
training of Brazilian pilots and mechanics in Sweden, logistical support and the transfer of
technology to Brazilian industries, as part of the country’s policy to surveil the Blue Amazon.
134 The political and economic crises referred to here has been triggered by the Impeachment of
former President Dilma Rousseff, in 2016, which paved the way for her Vice-President to rule the
country, imposing austerity measures that have deepened the symptoms of political turbulence and
economic backlash. Despite minor recovery signs, the overall scenario for the Brazilian economy
and political arena, at the time of writing is devastating. For more on the causes for the crises, see
Malamud (2017), p. 150.
9.2 The Brazilian Extended Continental Shelf: A Larger Blue Amazon
283
structure themselves appropriately, with a management and monitoring system
strengthened by partnerships, information sharing and cooperation with other institutions and the Navy.
A list of concrete outcomes of the political pressure exerted by the Blue Amazon
concept domestically include the negotiations to purchase 36 Grippen fighter jets
from the Swedish company SAAB;
133 and the founding of the AMAZUL S.A., the
public company established to promote, develop, transfer and maintain technologies
sensitive to the Brazilian Marine Nuclear Program (PNM), the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB), and the Brazilian Nuclear Program (PNB). In this
context, AMAZUL’s primary mission is to support the development of a nuclearpropelled submarine, a technological advancement taken as essential by Brazilian
strategists for the monitoring of Blue Amazon. In order to execute its projects and
offer technological services, the company has sought to attract qualified human
resources, a massive challenge in a developing economy which undergoes a severe
political and economic crisis.
134
The sovereignty and defense dimension of the Blue Amazon concept also informs
politico-strategic considerations for the South Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the concept
itself is essentially politico-strategic, both for international and domestic purposes, as
it locates maritime spaces in a decisive position for the dynamics of international
relations and the well-being of the Brazilian population. In a broader scenario, the
entire philosophy behind the narrative of a “Blue Amazon” points towards the use of
the oceans for national development and international cooperation. For that reason,
the Brazilian Navy equals the preparedness to defend the Blue Amazon as a
prerequisite for the country to exert geopolitical influence in the South Atlantic
Ocean, while attaining economic prosperity and social development. To those goals,
strategic projects of the Brazilian Navy have sought for a strong synergy with
academic, industrial and business sectors.
Regarding the international cooperation objective, capacity-building programs
have been designed and implemented, so as to stimulate cooperation with countries
such as South Africa, Namibia and others. The idea behind the curtains is to train
highly-qualified specialists in different fields of knowledge, as well as to foster
coordination between the navies of the countries involved. In fact,
133 The Brazilian Air Force signed a contract in 2014 with the Swedish company SAAB to acquire
36 Grippen NG fighter jets, in a total investment of approximately US$ 4.05 billion. The first
aircraft was delivered in 2019, and the last one should occur in 2026. The contract involves the
training of Brazilian pilots and mechanics in Sweden, logistical support and the transfer of
technology to Brazilian industries, as part of the country’s policy to surveil the Blue Amazon.
134 The political and economic crises referred to here has been triggered by the Impeachment of
former President Dilma Rousseff, in 2016, which paved the way for her Vice-President to rule the
country, imposing austerity measures that have deepened the symptoms of political turbulence and
economic backlash. Despite minor recovery signs, the overall scenario for the Brazilian economy
and political arena, at the time of writing is devastating. For more on the causes for the crises, see
Malamud (2017), p. 150.
9.2 The Brazilian Extended Continental Shelf: A Larger Blue Amazon
283