Guardians of the Blue: Maritime Security in the Age of Non-Traditional Threats

Dr. Andrea Resende is a Brazilian Maritime Security Scholar and teaches International Relations at the University Center of Belo Horizonte (UNIBH) and at UNA University Center. Dr. Resende holds a PhD in International Relations at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC MINAS), and is a collaborative member of the Brazilian Navy’s Political and Strategic Studies Center (CEPE).

This interview has been authorised for publication by Dr. Andrea Resende.

SPCIS: In your view, how has maritime security evolved in recent years within the broader framework of international relations?

Dr. Andrea Resende: The increasingly interdependence between countries and the spillover of threats and conflicts made Maritime Security to become a regional matter for several States in the last two decades. The European Union has developed a Maritime Security Strategy and the AUKUS initiative show that the western countries are making efforts for projecting seapower in the Indopacific. At the same time, the Global South is also creating new opportunities and efforts regarding maritime security. I expect that in the next few years BRICS may also develop a maritime security or a policy coordination for their member states. The international trade between them is expanding and considering that 90% of trade today happens at sea, there is a concise necessity for the countries to protect their trade and natural resources are against threats.  

Unfortunately, in International Relations as a major area of studies, I have observed that Maritime Security is still a very undiscussed subject. The Maritime Security scholars compose a small community that faces the lack of interest and acknowledgement of institutions in seeing Maritime Security as an interconnected subject with several field of studies such as Environmental Studies, Law, Economics and International Cooperation. Still, they persevere in their studies and even may contribute with their perspectives and thoughts to their Navies other few institutions that focus on the broader study of the ocean.

SPCIS: How do multilateral frameworks contribute to the peaceful management of maritime disputes without challenging national sovereignties?

Dr. Andrea Resende: The vastness of seas and oceans are, sometimes, too much for only one Navy to maintain international peace and security. The disparity of economical capabilities, economical crisis, lack of state’s interest, etc., may make it impossible for one nation to have a strong navy; in this sense, multilateral maritime exercises and operations are essential for maintain peace and security in areas such as the Gulf of Guinea, for example. In the last few years, cases of piracy and kidnaping have increased in the region of the Gulf of Guinea, a direct result of the increasing participation of the western African countries in international trade. Now, multilateral exercises such as the OBANGAME EXPRESS are essential for projecting power in the area and interoperability between South Atlantic Navies.

However, this multilateral effort must not only be conducted by Navies and the States and their governments must also take part in initiatives for securing their maritime environment, and this includes: to participate in international and regional organizations, as to maintain dialogue with other nations in the region. Following the case of the South Atlantic, if the nations do not cooperate, to maintain the dialogue, and coordinate security policies through regional institutions such as the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZPCSA) or at the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), it may become very difficult for maintain a peaceful environment in the region.

SPCIS: What role do non-traditional security threats, such as climate change or maritime piracy, play in shaping modern maritime policy?

Dr. Andrea Resende: Climate Change has become one of the most important topics for International Security in the last decade and in the case of Maritime Security, discussions on how technology may help this effort is slowly permeating the international institutions. Besides the harmful effects of “ballast water” in the environment, there has been a discussion on the development and application of “clean” propulsion systems in trade vessels to reduce the emission of greenhouse emissions.

Also, the development and insertion of unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned vessels at Navies is helping in the efforts for monitoring and surveilling the nation’s maritime areas against the release of waste or even oil spills caused by accidents. To monitor and surveil the main maritime areas may prevent tragedies from happening, such as the great crude oil spill of 2019 at the northeast coast of Brazil, which paralyzed fishing and tourist activities for months (those are the main economic activities of the region). The spill reached 11 states and caused, approximately, U$ 100 million of losses, besides the environmental damages.

SPCIS: How can small and medium-sized coastal states enhance their maritime domain awareness through international collaboration?

Dr. Andrea Resende: Medium and Small coastal states usually share important maritime features and areas that may force them to cooperate, as is the case of the Strait of Malacca in Singapore. The Strait of Malacca is one of the busiest trade routes of the world and any harmful event in the area may cause losses for all countries in the region. What is interesting in this case is that, besides their territorial disputes in the region, some countries in the region maintain talks and cooperative efforts for maintaining maritime security and safety in the area. This is a great example for other smaller states that may also lack in capabilities for protecting their jurisdictional waters.

SPCIS: What are some best practices you have observed for balancing national maritime interests with international legal norms such as UNCLOS?

Dr. Andrea Resende: Brazil’s request for extending its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and its Continental Shelf at UNCLOS is one of the best examples for me. Between the 1990s and the 2000s there was several political advancements that helped advocating for the expansion at UNCLOS and this includes: the governmental investments in scientifical researches in the region through the “Brazilian Continental Shelf Survey” and the inclusion of the “Brazilian Strategic Surroundings” in the National Strategy and Policy. The Brazilian Continental Shelf Survey (LEPLAC) was created and constitutionalized in 1993 and is a governmental research program for Brazil’s Continental Shelf.

Now, the Brazilian Strategic Surroundings is a vast area that reaches the eastern coast of South America, the western coast of Africa and the Antarctic Ocean. This concept was created in the 1960s by Therezinha de Castro, a female geographer, and institutionalized in the 2000s.  This strategical concept draws attention of the impact of the dynamics in South Atlantic Ocean for Brazil’s interests, policies and security. Both initiatives helped to nationally strengthen the importance for creating norms and policies that would allow Brazil not only for exploring its resources, but also to protect it. In 2008 Brazil was able to explore its pre-salt reserves (massive oil reserves) in its EEZ and in 2025 the UNCLOS conceded permission for Brazil to explore oil in the northern region of the country. Brazil has also requested UNCLOS for another expansion of its Continental Shelf, now in its southern seas, in a area called “Rio Grande Rise”.