Brazil Hosts South Atlantic Summit for Regional Peace
Brazil is set to host a high-level summit of South Atlantic nations this week, aimed at shielding the region from global geopolitical tensions and ensuring it remains a “zone of peace.”
Keeping Global Conflicts at Bay
The 9th Ministerial Meeting of the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS) will take place this Wednesday and Thursday in Rio de Janeiro. During a press conference at the Itamaraty Palace, Carlos Márcio Bicalho Cozendey, Brazil’s Secretary for Multilateral Political Affairs, emphasized that the primary objective is to prevent external powers from “bringing their conflicts and problems” into the South American and African regions.
“The idea is exactly to keep that away,” Cozendey stated, outlining Brazil’s mission as it prepares to succeed Cape Verde and assume the presidency of the organization for the next three years.
Building a Network of Cooperation
Founded in 1986 under a United Nations resolution initiated by Brazil and Argentina, ZOPACAS serves as a forum for 24 countries across South America and the west coast of Africa. Beyond security, the organization focuses on economic development, environmental protection, and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Brazil aims to use its upcoming presidency to transition the “zone of peace” into a “zone of effective cooperation.” According to Cozendey, the goal is to “give density” to the relationships between member states, moving beyond rhetoric toward tangible collaboration.
Key Agreements and Attendees
Diplomatic sources indicate that 12 ministerial-level delegations have already confirmed their attendance, including representatives from Angola, Uruguay, Gabon, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The meeting will be opened by Cape Verde’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Luís do Livramento Monteiro Alves de Brito, alongside his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to participate in the closing ceremony.
Delegates are scheduled to sign three landmark documents during the summit:
- A convention on the protection of the marine environment.
- A strategic cooperation plan establishing three core areas of regional action.
- The Rio de Janeiro Declaration, a political manifesto reaffirming the region’s commitment to peace.
This summit marks the third time Brazil has hosted the ministerial meeting, following sessions in Rio de Janeiro in 1988 and Brasília in 1994. The last meeting was held in 2023 in Mindelo, Cape Verde.
Image: Pexels – Werner Pfennig
