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Brazil Scott#1845 showing their first Antarctic expedition, 1982

In discussing Brazilian geopolitics, one must be careful to note that Brazil, in comparison to Argentine and Chile, has major geographic disadvantages with regards to Antarctica, and is generally considered the “newcomer” on the Antarctic geopolitical stage. In 1982 Brazilian government launched their first Antarctic expedition, and a year later built their first base (named Comandante Ferraz, for a deceased naval officer active in Antarctica), which has been active year-round since then. Image File history File links Stop_hand. ... Image File history File links Brazil-1845. ... Image File history File links Brazil-1845. ...

Brazil Scott #2044. The Ferraz Base

Despite their status as newcomers, Brazilian geopolitical writers have had considerable influence on the nation’s Antarctic policies (especially during the period of military dictatorship under a series of unelected general/presidents from 1964 to 1985), although one cannot speak of a national Brazilian Antarctic consciousness similar to that of Argentina or Chile. Image File history File links Brazil-2044_Ferraz_base. ... Image File history File links Brazil-2044_Ferraz_base. ...

Brazil’s Antarctic geopolitics are reinforced by the notion of Brazilian “grandeza” which, they feel, will be part of Brazil’s eventual status as a major player on the world scene. Brazilian analysts and officials have often stressed Brazil’s special geopolitical status as a major power sitting astride key navigation sea lanes of communication in the Atlantic from the Equator to Antarctica. This notion has always been resisted by Argentina, but after that country’s ignominious defeat by the British in 1982 Brazilian geopoliticians felt they had to fill the power vacuum left by Argentina and become the “guardian of the South-West Atlantic”.

Scott #2096. Brazilian Air Force in Antarctica

A Brazilian geopolitician, Therezinha de Castro , came up with a concept in the South American Quadrant of Antarctica which had a considerable impact on Argentina and several other South American nations: the notion of “defrontaçao” (frontage). Under this concept, in the South American sector of Antarctica (Greenwich 0 degree meridian to 90 degrees West) all no n-South American nations would be required to remove their bases. The one-quarter piece of Antarctica as defined above would come under the control (although not necessarily sovereignty) of those six South American countries which had “open” meridians to the South Pole (i.e. north-south lines which did not touch or include any other nation’s South American territory). This approach would greatly diminish the sectors presently claimed by Argentina and Chile, would eliminate the British sector, and would give small, but significant, sectors to Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador (thanks to the Galapagos Islands). Brazil would have the largest sector. Image File history File links Brazil-2096. ... Image File history File links Brazil-2096. ...

Frontage theory was never an official Brazilian government position, but it was widely accepted by Brazilian geopoliticians and others with an interest in Antarctica. As might be expected, it was strongly opposed by Argentine and Chilean geopoliticians, and welcomed by those in Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador.

As is the case with Argentina and Chile, the military (especially the Navy and Air Force) play a major role in Brazil's Antarctic program.

References

Child, Jack. Antarctica and South American Geopolitics: Frozen Lebensraum. New York: Praeger, 1988, Chaper 6.

Coelho, Aristides Pinto. "Novas tendências". Boletim Antártico, no. 4, Jan 1985.

de Castro, Therezinha. "Antárctica: Assunto do Momento". Revista de Clube Militar (Brazil), 1958.

de Castro, Therezinha. Atlas-Texto de Geopolítica do Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Capemi Editora, 1982.

Dodds, Klaus. Geopolitics in Antarctica : views from the Southern Oceanic Rim. Chichester ; New York : Published in association with Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge by J. Wiley, 1997.

Moneta, Carlos J., ed. La Antártida en el Sistema Internacional del Futuro. Buenos Aires: Grupo Editor Lationoamericano, 1988.

Schmied, Julie. La Política Antárctica de los Países Latinoamericanos. Madrid: Instituto de Cuestiones Internacionales, 1988.