Strategic Importance of the South Atlantic

• Main Author: Camporro, Honorio S.
• Other Authors: ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1989
• Subjects: Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; *SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN; *STRATEGIC AREAS; *EAST WEST RELATIONS; NAVAL OPERATIONS; ANTARCTIC REGIONS; MILITARY GEOGRAPHY; MARINE TRANSPORTATION; ECONOMICS; CONFLICT; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; South Atlantic Ocean
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA209810; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA209810

The South Atlantic Ocean is an area that is normally forgotten by historians and strategists both civilian and military. Nevertheless, this immense mass of water, especially the most southern sectors, constitutes an area of great strategic value. The South Atlantic has few land masses and for the reason the ones present have great value in support of military operations. On the other hand, the South Atlantic's incalculable richness will increasingly attract the attention of the great powers. Antarctica will also be an enticing sector for various nations that will claim areas of sovereignty. This study tries to present the South Atlantic as a potential area of conflict mainly due to three major considerations: economic, maritime routes, and strategic areas. All of these would have to be taken into account in the event of an East-West confrontation.