The current international context is marked by a profound reconfiguration of global power dynamics and security, requiring pragmatic approaches from policymakers, especially in peripheral regions. In Africa, the Western region and Sahel are at the forefront of geopolitical disputes between old and new global and regional powers, challenging traditional logics and dominant canons in International Relations. The institutionalization of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and their subsequent rupture with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), signals a unprecedented institutional fragmentation and a reconfiguration of power and security alliances that transcends continental borders.
The Sahel region has become a hotspot of volatility due to the proliferation of violent extremist groups, often acting as proxies for extrarregional interests, and the contestation of liberal democracy. The growing influence of new global actors in the economic, political, and military spheres has further complicated the situation. For Cabo Verde, an archipelago state with specific structural vulnerabilities, this scenario poses multidimensional challenges. The country's security is intrinsically linked to the stability of its continental neighbors, and the transshipment of the continental crisis to the maritime vector potentiates direct threats to navigation and oceanic control.
Cabo Verde faces a dilemma in its diplomatic and institutional relations. The country's independence was designed in a free, peaceful, and integrated continent, justifying its defense of regional insertion based on international law, good governance, and multilateral dialogue. The rupture of ECOWAS and the institutionalization of AES may weaken the regional bloc's voice in international instances and complicate technical and economic cooperation, with significant implications for Cabo Verde. However, this scenario may also open new opportunities for the reconfiguration of economic, political, and security strategies.
To navigate this complex situation, Cabo Verde's diplomacy and defense policy require a pragmatic approach with a strong strategic component. The country must position itself as a facilitator of diplomatic bridges, promoting dialogue between parties based on mutual respect. Cabo Verde's diplomacy must articulate its Special Partnership with the European Union and its centrality in forums like the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZOPACAS), acting as a strategic translator and essential link between Atlantic interests and the new Sahel reality.
The AES has redrawn the regional power and security map, and Cabo Verde must ensure its foreign policy has the agility and technical density necessary to navigate these complex waters of regional geopolitics. The country's future depends on its ability to read, anticipate, and react to changes in the Sahel. Cabo Verde's strategic location in the Middle Atlantic makes it a platform for navigation and oceanic control, but also exposes it to the risks of instrumentalization by rival powers.
The security of Cabo Verde's waters and the country's overall security are intrinsically linked to the stability of its continental neighbors. The transshipment of the continental crisis to the maritime vector poses direct threats to navigation and oceanic control. To mitigate these risks, Cabo Verde must develop a proactive and pragmatic foreign policy, engaging with regional and global actors to promote stability and security in the Sahel.
According to Mário Gonçalves, a specialist in West African security dynamics, Cabo Verde's diplomacy must be able to articulate its relationships with traditional partners and new actors, promoting a strategic translation and liaison between Atlantic interests and the new Sahel reality. The country's future depends on its ability to navigate these complex geopolitics and ensure its foreign policy is agile and technically sound.
Key points
- Cabo Verde faces multidimensional challenges due to the reconfiguration of security in the Sahel region.
- The country's security is intrinsically linked to the stability of its continental neighbors.
- Cabo Verde's diplomacy requires a pragmatic approach to navigate complex geopolitics.
