Cabo Verde e a Segurança Marítima

Cooperação e Perspetivas de Evolução

Abstract

Maritime security in Cabo Verde constitutes a central domain of public action, given the extent of its maritime space, its position in the Atlantic and the transnational nature of the threats it faces. This article examines the evolution of the national maritime security system and the relationship between internal institutionalisation and international cooperation. It argues that the State’s response results from an evolutionary process combining the consolidation of the Coast Guard, the development of interagency coordination mechanisms and the integration of the maritime dimension into strategic policy instruments. At the external level, bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation has been decisive for capacity building and for Cabo Verde’s integration into regional maritime security frameworks, notably the Yaoundé Architecture and the ECOWAS Zone G Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre. This trajectory reflects the adaptation of a small island state to the requirements of maritime governance, mitigating vulnerabilities and consolidating Cabo Verde’s role as a relevant actor in the sub-region.