ZOPACAS at 40: Strengthening Brazil-Africa Relations

The South Atlantic Zone of Peace and Cooperation (ZOPACAS) is observing its 40th anniversary in 2026, a milestone coinciding with Brazil assuming the presidency of the diplomatic mechanism. Established in 1986, the organization aims to maintain the region free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction while fostering South-South cooperation between South American and African states.

Representatives from 24 member states are meeting in Rio de Janeiro on April 8 and 9, 2026, for the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the ZOPACAS. The group includes Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, alongside 21 countries along Africa’s west coast, ranging from Senegal to South Africa.

Brazil’s Presidency and Strategic Objectives

Brazil has succeeded Cape Verde in the presidency of the mechanism. According to the established protocol of the organization, the country that hosts the ministerial meeting assumes the presidency for a period of two to three years.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry is focusing on expanding the “cooperation” element of the ZOPACAS mandate. Ambassador Carlos Márcio Bicalho Cozendey, the Secretary for Multilateral Political Affairs at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that while the consensus regarding a zone free of weapons of mass destruction has been maintained for 40 years, the aspect of cooperation has not developed to its full potential.

To address this, the member states are expected to sign three specific documents during the Rio de Janeiro meetings:

• A convention focused on the marine environment.
• A cooperation strategy that defines three areas of action, further subdivided into 14 thematic areas.
• The Rio de Janeiro Declaration, which serves as a political document.

Historical Context and Framework

The ZOPACAS was created via United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution A/41/11, adopted on October 27, 1986. The resolution was proposed by Brazil and co-sponsored by 13 coastal countries, as well as Bangladesh and Santa Lúcia.

The mechanism was designed to innovate upon previous UN efforts to create zones of peace, such as the Indian Ocean Zone of Peace established in December 1971. Its creation was influenced by Cold War dynamics and the strengthening of South-South technical cooperation following the 1978 Buenos Aires Action Plan.

The core objectives of the ZOPACAS include:

• Ensuring the denuclearization of the South Atlantic and preventing the introduction of weapons of mass destruction.
• Urging states from other regions to respect the South Atlantic as an area of peace and cooperation by reducing or eliminating their military presence.
• Preventing the extension of extra-regional conflicts and rivalries into the South Atlantic region.
• Stimulating dialogue on maritime themes and the international law of the sea.

Brazil-Africa Relations and Regional Interests

For Brazil, the ZOPACAS has served as a tool to broaden its diplomatic and technical connections with African states along the Atlantic coast. This engagement extends Brazil’s reach beyond its traditional Lusophone partners, which include Angola, Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Brazil’s interests in the region involve a dual approach: promoting peace and a commitment to nuclear disarmament while simultaneously strengthening its own diplomatic, military, and naval positions in the South Atlantic.

Analysis of the organization’s 40-year history suggests that the continued effectiveness of Brazil’s engagement within the ZOPACAS will depend on the domestic mobilization of government agencies and the implementation of concrete cooperative efforts in complementary areas, such as the protection of maritime resources.