The Nature of Threats in Pan-Amazon

Abstract

For decades, the Amazon Region has become a strategic and National Defense priority for Brazil. In addition to the vast territorial extension and the abundance of natural resources still little exploited, the region has gained prominence for concentrating the three dimensions that present threats to national security: 1) geopolitical or traditional issues; 2) security threats, related to state vulnerabilities, institutional weaknesses and the fight against illicit acts of all kinds; and 3) socio-environmental challenges. In addition to the internal problems it faces, the region forms a vast collective space of eight countries that share similar challenges and need to seek joint solutions. For this reason, it is suggested that regional cooperation, through the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), proves to be the best strategy to address the threats affecting the region. The article is therefore divided into three sections and a brief conclusion. The first addresses the nature of the threats in the region. The second discusses the challenges, especially state vulnerabilities and institutional weaknesses in border areas. The third seeks to discuss opportunities for regional cooperation, highlighting, in the conclusion, the relevant role of ACTO for the area.