Lusophone Connections and China’s Growing Presence in the South Atlantic

Abstract

For a long time, the South Atlantic was just a passageway for trade between Latin American countries and Europe, with little interaction between its margins in South America and West Africa. However, this has changed as it has become an area of increasing exploration and extraction of strategic resources, as well as a projection space over Antarctica. Whereas before, only the US and the UK were present over the region, today, China has reached South America and Africa and is beginning to expand its presence on both sides of the South Atlantic, which is already arousing a reaction from the US concerned with losing its status and influence in the region. China is now also one of the largest trading partners and investors in South America and sub-Saharan Africa, which is leading to a reconfiguration of forces in the region. Most of the Portuguese- speaking countries are located in the South Atlantic. However, after an important concertation experiment but with meager economic outcomes via the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), in the last two decades, they now find themselves once again with their backs to each other. Studying the multifaceted repercussions of the engagement of China on the Lusophone countries located in the South Atlantic is the objective of this exploratory article.