South Atlantic Nations Sign Landmark Marine Protection Pact
In a landmark move to safeguard one of the world’s most vital waterways, Brazil and several African nations have signed a historic pact to protect the South Atlantic. The agreement, signed Thursday in Rio de Janeiro, aims to shield the marine environment from ecological threats and insulate the region from escalating global geopolitical tensions.
A Unified Front for Marine Conservation
The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment in the South Atlantic was officially signed by Brazil, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Republic of the Congo. The treaty was the centerpiece of the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS).
Under the new accord, signatory nations commit to conserving marine environments within their sovereign waters and pledging mutual cooperation in international waters throughout the South Atlantic. Beyond conservation, the agreement targets illegal fishing and promotes sustainable management of marine life, environmental education, and “ocean literacy” programs to engage the public in preservation efforts.
Shielding the South Atlantic from Global Conflict
The meeting occurred against a backdrop of rising international instability. Representatives from the 24 member nations of ZOPACAS—hailing from South America and the west coast of Africa—issued a collective warning against the encroachment of major power rivalries into the region.
The “Rio de Janeiro Declaration” reaffirms the group’s commitment to keeping the South Atlantic a “Zone of Peace and Cooperation,” strictly free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. The document explicitly calls for an end to militarization and extra-regional disputes within the zone.
“Our ocean should not become a stage for geopolitical disputes,” stated Mauro Vieira, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Vieira, who assumed the presidency of the group for the 2026-2028 term, noted that Brazilian President Lula da Silva has made regional stability a top priority.
A Legacy of Cooperation
The ministerial meeting also marked the 40th anniversary of ZOPACAS. Founded in 1986 through a United Nations resolution spearheaded by Brazil and Argentina, the organization was designed to foster economic development and security between the two continents sharing the Atlantic coast.
Minister Vieira highlighted that the South Atlantic’s stability is more critical than ever, given the global economic shocks caused by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. “Channels, gulfs, straits, and oceans should bring us closer together, not be a cause for discord,” Vieira said, emphasizing that developing nations bear the brunt of rising energy and food prices caused by distant wars.
The ZOPACAS group includes 24 countries, including South American neighbors Argentina and Uruguay, and African nations such as Angola and Guinea-Bissau. While most Portuguese-speaking nations were represented by their Foreign Ministers, Guinea-Bissau was the only member of that group unable to send a representative to the Rio summit.
Image: Pexels – Maria elias Pinho amaral
