Geostrategic Visions on the South Atlantic: Brazil and Colombia, a Comparative Approach

Abstract

<p><strong>[Visiones geoestratégicas del Atlántico Sur: Brasil y Colombia, un enfoque comparativo]</strong></p><p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p><p>This article seeks to analyze the different approaches that Brazil and Colombia have had to date on the geostrategic importance of the South Atlantic, emphasizing the differences that the ocean has had for their respective conceptions of nation and their insertion in the South American region. It argues and concludes that while Brazil seeks leadership in South America by emphasizing its role as promoter of an integral autonomizing2 conception that articulates development, defense and regional security, Colombia prioritizes its role as a reference in the fight against transnational crime, positioning itself as a Middle Oceanic Power.</p><p><strong>RESUMEN</strong></p><p>Este artículo busca analizar los diferentes enfoques que Brasil y Colombia han tenido hasta la fecha sobre la importancia geoestratégica del Atlántico Sur, destacando las diferencias que ha tenido el océano para su respectiva concepción del país y su inserción en la región de América del Sur. Se argumenta y concluye que mientras Brasil busca el liderazgo en esta zona a través de un énfasis en su papel como promotor de una concepción autónoma integral para el Atlántico Sur que articula el desarrollo, la defensa y la seguridad regional, Colombia a su vez prioriza su papel en la región como referencia en la lucha contra la delincuencia transnacional, posicionándose como una potencia oceánica media.</p>

Preserving Sunken Military Vessels as Underwater Cultural Heritage in Colombia: Legal Challenges and Prospects for the USS Kearsarge Wreck Site

“…Although Colombia is a country facing both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, it has not traditionally been considered a major maritime nation, resulting in limited naval wrecks because of the size of its navy and national interests [39,107]. The Colombian Navy, officially known as the Armada República de Colombia (ARC) in Spanish, has a modest naval heritage compared to other maritime powers such as the United States or large blue-water navies.…”

“…The absence of a clear procedure for the protection of underwater cultural heritage and management of military shipwrecks can be attributed to a slow maritime evolution caused by a centralist and Andean strategic policy. This policy did not prioritize the development and utilization of the country's maritime potential, despite its strategic location near the Isthmus of Panama [13,107,165,166]. Moreover, the location of Colombia's capital city, Bogota, 2600 m above sea level in the Andes Mountains, far from its principal port cities, poses a significant challenge for the development and implementation of effective maritime policies [123,167,168].…”