Blue Amazon: Brazil's Maritime Territory

Amazônia Azul: Overview

• Brazil has jurisdiction over 3.5 million square kilometers of maritime space due to its 7,400 km coastline
• Its abundant natural resources leads it to be called the "Blue Amazon", analogous to the Amazon rainforest
• The ocean is vital for navigation, fishing, tourism, renewable energy and extraction of oil and gas
• Brazil is pursuing an expansion with the UN of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by an additional 2 million km²
• The pre-salt reserves located in the Blue Amazon account for much of the nation's resources
• Approximately 85% of the petroleum, 75% of the natural gas, and 45% of the fish produced come from it
• Over 95% of Brazil’s foreign trade is transported via sea lanes in the area
• There is a wealth of unexploited natural resources and unexplored biodiversity in the region

Maritime Boundary Claims and Monitoring

• Since 2004, Brazil has sought to extend its maritime territory with the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) by 2.1 million km²
• Awaiting final recommendations from the Commission on the definitive international boundaries
• Brazil has continuously operated a Continental Platform Survey Plan since 1989 for assessing the potential of living and non-living resources in their marine zones
• Discovery of pre-salt oil reserves accelerated the process, amid fear that Brazil's EEZ-adjacent territories might become targets for other nations
• In response, the Navy stepped up efforts such as constant monitoring operations and investments in projects
• These projects include the construction of the first nuclear submarine in the Southern Hemisphere

Submarine Development and Resource Potential

• An estimated R$35 billion is invested in the Submarine Development Program (Prosub)
• Prosub plans to build five submarines, including one nuclear-powered, making it the largest military technology development program of the Armed Forces in monetary sums
• Brazil's government holds a notification from the National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM) about the potential for extracting high-value metals
• The metals are nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese located at depths of about 4,000 meters

Maritime Security and Strategic Positioning

• Brazil theoretically exists in an area free from significant conflict and operates internationally via the legitimizing actions of International Governmental Organizations
• History suggests that when a state has something valuable that is coveted by others, it becomes vulnerable and must defend itself
• Investment in defense, such as the development of monitoring technologies, should be pursued to benefit society
• The utilization of a nuclear submarine is seen as a way to maximize effectiveness
• Nuclear submarines cannot be detected by satellite, deterring piracy in the Blue Amazon and preventing any state from infringing on the continental platform

Expanded Maritime Claim and Current Status

• Brazil's request to increase the size of its Blue Amazon was split into three areas
• As of June 2019, the UN granted Brazil some of its claim, incorporating 170,000 km² into Brazil's Continental Platform in the South area
• The country awaits consideration of the requests for the Equatorial and East/West regions

Composition of the Blue Amazon

• The extent of a coastal state’s jurisdiction is determined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• Four primary zones are identified, extending from its shoreline
• Mar territorial stretches to a maximum of 12 nautical miles (22 km)
• No state can infringe the laws of the coastal state
• Zona contigua (Contiguous Zone) extends another 12 nautical miles, where coastal states can enforce their customs, fiscal, immigration, and health regulations
• Zona econômica exclusiva (Exclusive Economic Zone) extends up to 200 nautical miles, granting exclusive rights to exploration and use of marine resources
• Plataforma Continental (Continental Platform) extends beyond the EEZ, subject to technical criteria, allowing exploitation of seabed mineral and sedentary species

Sovereignty Rights and Restrictions

• Coastal states possess sovereign rights within the exclusive economic zone for the purpose of management of natural resources, both living and non-living
• Jurisdiction encompasses constructing artificial islands, conducting marine scientific research, and environmental protection
• The continental shelf's delineation adheres to Article 76 of the Law of the Sea related to extraction and utilization of its resources, which include mineral, biological and sedentary species on and beneath the seabed
• Coastal states have exclusive rights; unless they exploit these resources, no other entity may do so without explicit consent

Blue Amazon Management System

• The Brazilian Navy coordinates the implementation and improvement of the Blue Amazon Management System (SisGAAz) in collaboration with government agencies
• Its mission includes monitoring and controlling the area adjacent to the "Blue Amazon", Brazilian Search and Rescue region, other strategic areas in the South Atlantic
• About 22 million km² falls under responsibility, contributing to strategic mobility to respond to any threat, aggression, or illegality
• SisGAAz integrates equipment and systems, including land-based and ship-based radars, high-resolution cameras
• These systems fuse information received from collaborative systems, like the Maritime Monitoring System Supporting Oil Activities (SIMMAP), the Long-Range Identification and Tracking System (LRIT)

Additional Tracking Programs and Future Enhancements

• The Information System on Maritime Traffic (SISTRAM) and the Satellite Fishing Vessel Tracking Program (PREPS) is the primary means of satellite-based position tracking
• GPS-captured data is transmitted via satellite to tracking centers.
• Acoustic sensors will be incorporated at monitoring sites in the future

Introduction to the Operational Environment

• The idea of "unilateral pacifism" makes it difficult to identify threats to Brazil
• The distance between "unilateral pacifism" and current threats demands greater readiness
• It becomes necessary to identify existing and potential threats while developing a defense mindset across Brazilian society
• This highlights the importance of the issues involving antagonism towards national interests

Maritime and Fluvial Environment

• The maritime and fluvial operational environment presents an entry point for both prosperity via exchange of wealth and risks
• The risks are represented by threats to society in the globalized world that include state and criminal actors, unconventional phenomena, natural events, pandemics, resource conflicts, climate change, cyberterrorism and bioterrorism
• Analysis must guide positions on political-strategic situations involving national interests and requiring the Armed Forces
• "Oceanopolitical" theories involving Maritime Power and the Blue Amazon, and dual fluvial role of maritime and naval environments, impact economic and social development and political and military disputes

Maritime and Inland Waters Overview

• Oceans and inland waterways are vital to Brazil, where the country has patrimonial and sovereign rights including commercial exploitation to 200 nautical miles within its AJB
• Extends as well to the seabed of its submarine locations bounded by its Continental Platform limits
• With the Rio Grande Elevation included, approximately 5.7 million sq. km and approx. 60,000 km of waterways are within the area

Marine Resources and Economic Importance

• Brazil has another Amazon in the marine environment
• Brazil must export and import goods of which about 90% goes by sea
• Coastal shipping is a low cost route for its large continental scale
• Various types of marine science research is conducted in maritime and river settings
• Communications by Internet between continents are done via fiber optic cables on the seabed

Hydrocarbon Production and Future Potential

• Approximately 90% of national hydrocarbon outputs are exploited within the AJB
• Contemporary dependency on oil means Brazil now has a moment in its history relating to oil fields as a function of discovery of oil and natural gas
• There are oil and natural gas fields in the pre-salt area and Brazil will transform to become among the largest sources of combustible hydrocarbon in the world

Maritime Power and the Life of the Nation

• A concept of Maritime Power must consider its dual purpose, which is central to national growth, inclusive of aspects both production/economics as well as military
• Maritime Power is the projection of National Power as a result of incorporating national resources for use of interior waterways both as political and military and to pursue national goals
• Integration of resources has the necessary condition of synergic interaction, a critical component of the two-pronged expression of power

Elements of Maritime Power

• Naval power - the military arm put into action by the Navy
• Merchant marine - also including maritime and river transportation
• Maritime and waterway infrastructure includes ports, and other support structures
• Naval industry is made up of construction/reparation shipyards
• War industry is of interest to armament programs
• Fisheries include shipping and facilities

Other Areas of Maritime Power Generation

• R&D organizations - for use of the sea
• Sea resources for exploitation
• Personnel working at sea or doing related activities on shore
• The Inter-ministerial Committee for Marine Resources (CIRM) offers interaction in maritime affairs is being expanded to add input to the development of Brazil’s maritime power capabilities
• Brazil’s Maritime Authority, the Navy Commander - to play important roles in contributing formulation of national policies related to the Sea, particularly the National Maritime Policy (PMN)
• Together the various sectors are key to the economy as enablers of national development

Core Maritime Functions

• Intercommunication - Encompassing transport and diverse actors as well use of modern undersea fiber-optic comms
• Maritime defense - To protect maritime and river commerce, by MB via Naval power and industry
• Technical development has led to two more:

Power Areas for the Maritime

• Research to produce scientific knowledge
• The goal is to use maritime space for national development
• Areas like the Rio Grande Elevation is geomorhpologically part of the Brazilian continental platform and requires protecting
• Exploitation now emerging in the 21st C with extraction of maritime resources
• About 45% of Brazils power originates from oil and gas exploitation at sea
• Marine development of the Sea must provide means for Naval support

Maritime Power and National Strength

• Key aspects can influence maritime power and enable it
• The need for a Maritime Mindset, where people and government are aware of the importance of maritime domain and support its personnel
• There must be Financing abilities
• Brazil’s continental status has a history of land-oriented thinking
• Sustainable development must be a need
• Without it, the environment will be harmed
• Scarcity of offshore/marine resources could hinder development or lead to restrictive measures
• Brazil already has a National System of Mobilization and National Defense Strategy
• Capacity for Mobilization: a way for a nation to transition during peacetime towards conflict with minimum disruption

Maritime Power Components

• Technological and Industrial Capability is needed
• Almost any state needs to be developed technologically for the maritime so it has materials for maritime operations
• Science, Tech, and Innovation is increasing among many governments to have greater collaboration with the Academy
• To have the “triple helix” in place for that collaboration
• The Brazil's Navy is the means for defense
• Other areas of economy relating to the oceans need to be addressed
• The safety of resources must be a top priority

Defense, Survival and Economic Development

• Commerce, navigation, waterways, ports, power, fisheries and the naval industry require defense
• In a defense role, protecting coastal areas from threats by protecting sea lanes and infrastructure is important
• Safety has a high importance
• Security must be high in order to use Navy power for the security of maritime infrastructure

Threats to Brazil

• The 21st C presented threats to national interests along with desires for a peaceful, disarmed world
• Threats/challenges are being driven by complex social and technological factors
• A constant improvement of capability to deal with conflict will therefore become necessary

Defending National Sovereignty

• Protection of the population and patrimony must be backed by readiness
• For example being prepared for hostile attack to energy facilities in the ocean

Ocean Security Factors

• The country could be attacked or pressured from the sea
• Piracy along the South Atlantic, particularly at Guinea
• With more offshore activity there is more piratical crime with installations targeted
• The national territory must have enough offshore infrastructure to withstand attack

Illicit Activities

• Illegal fishing yields about $23 billion/year, and is a threat in and around Brazil’s sphere of influence
• The fishing harms the environment
• There have been efforts internationally though further monitoring of the sea lanes near islands of Martim Vaz, Trindade and the Archipelago of São Pedro and São Paulo necessary
• The government faces threats from agents seeking wildlife data for biopiracy
• Organized crime and urban conflicts are carried out via waterways
• This represents a source of domestic security threats

Asymmetric Threats

• The above requires constant government involvement, so that those threats can be dealt with
• Terrorist attacks are always possible since 9/11.
• Similar maritime attacks have already occurred
• Ships can be detonated and cause damage to offshore facilities
• There is an emerging risk to use toxic materials to harm the environment, which the Navy defends via WMD readiness

Economic and Environmental Threats

• Cyber attacks and digital sabotage are now a means for hostile action affecting maritime operations
• Environmental disasters can close off ports and threaten tourism revenue
• Resource wars driven by water and minerals along with ethnic conflict are another source of offshore risk
• The above require Defense Systems preparedness engaging all segments of Brazilian society

Goals of the PROANTAR Program

• The PROANTAR program was created in 1982 to research the Antarctic region to add to broader knowledge with direct impact on the national territory
• Intended to promote Brazil’s standing as a consultative member of the Antarctic and to guarantee Brazil’s involvement in future key decision-making bodies

Brazilian Influence over Antarctica

• Brazil also is the 7th closest Country to Antarctica in the southern hemisphere
• The atmospheric processes originating there have a direct climate impact

Logistics of Brazilian presence in Antarctica

• The presence in Antarctica adds to Brazil’s standing in the scientific community
• 29 nations have consultative stations there as well for this purpose, of which 14 have more than one location denoting the important of a continuous presence
• The Brazilian station “Comandante Ferraz” was constructed in 1984 establishing diplomatic ties with the Antarctic Treaty
• Much of commercial world traffic utilizes the Panama and Suez Canals which can be vulnerable
• Passages south of South Africa at the Cape and through the Drake Passage are key for maritime trade
• The later has the power of Brazil’s maritime navigational power

Vulnerabilities of the Antarctic Region

• Brazil is directly influenced due to its geographical position
• The position influences weather
• There is concern the area could be exploited for fisheries
• Mineral resources are plentiful and can be exploited for 200 years
• The 2048 Treaty talks on Antarctica’s future may decide the best course forward
• The SCAR can allow access to scientific projects

Oceans and National Economies

• The sea touches the lives of every Brazilian directly, in shipping and resources along its 5.7 million sq km EEZ
• Brazil considers protection over that region with importance naming that the “Blue Amazon”
• Brazil must protect its ocean resources
• The vast majority exports flow through Brazilian ports demanding knowledge of the sea

Blue Economy and Sustainability in Brazil

• The Brazilian Navy protects ocean resources, in support of sustainable development which demands conservation and sustainability
• Brazil operates along a coastline that is 8,5000 km, with some of the major populated areas lying there
• Wind power potential in areas there has a large capacity for offshore wind farm investment

Brazil's 'Blue Amazon' encompasses 3.5 million square kilometers of ocean territory. Rich in resources, it supports navigation, fishing, energy, and trade. Brazil aims to expand its Exclusive Economic Zone, vital for pre-salt reserves and biodiversity.