The military presence of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic: the british geostrategic interests in the region (1990-2016)

Author(s)

João Vitor Tossini

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo. 2021-03-27.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Políticas Públicas e Relações Internacionais. São Paulo
• Defense date: 2021-03-04
• Advisor: Samuel Alves Soares

Abstract

This research aims to analyse the United Kingdom’s geostrategic interests in the South Atlantic, taking into account the country’s history as a great power. Beyond that, the research will be analysing the nature of the British military presence in the region, the expeditionary capabilities of the United Kingdom in the post-Cold War years and power projection of this period from 1990 to 2016. Despite a period of relative decline, the United Kingdom remains characterised as a great power, bearing significant military, economic and politic power in the international system, being one of the permanent members of the United Nations’ Security Council, one of the most proactive members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the closest ally of the United States. These factors enable the country to have relatively meaningful freedom of action in the South Atlantic. The United Kingdom is the only foreign great power beyond the United States with a permanent presence south of the Equator. Additionally, the United Kingdom kept a power projection system based on its Overseas Territories, located on significant geostrategic relevant areas. It is supported that the Malvinas/Falklands and Ascension in the South Atlantic, Gibraltar in the western Mediterranean, Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, amongst other territories, are essential pillars for the British power projection capabilities, relative control of surrounding areas and, consequently, for the position of the United Kingdom as a great military power. Therefore, the South Atlantic, a region with an appropriate amount of those territories, is in the centre of the British strategic considerations, especially during and after the Malvinas/Falklands War that threatened this power projection system. Thus, analysing the United Kingdom’s geostrategic interests in the South Atlantic, the past conflicts, and the expeditionary capabilities and military presence in the region of the country are going to be taken into consideration. It is expected that this dissertation might contribute to the studies concerning the strategic environment that surrounds the regional countries, to the links between the British expeditionary warfare and the British Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic, in addition to expanding the national studies about the United Kingdom in the region to areas beyond the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty dispute. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/04474-3 - The military presence of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic: the British geostrategic interests in the region (1990-2015)
• Grantee: João Vitor Tossini
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master