More than 1 200 Namibian naval officers trained in Brazil in 30 years

At least 1 200 Namibian sailors and naval officers have been trained in Brazil since 1995, with 1 400 trained in Namibia as part of both countries’ efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations.

According to the Brazilian embassy, this represents the largest contingent of foreign officers receiving training in Brazil.

“Ongoing training of sailors and naval officers has resulted in around 1 200 Namibian personnel being trained in Brazil.

“Additionally, more than 1 400 Namibian personnel have also been trained in Namibia by Brazilian marines,” the embassy says.

This comes after a Brazilian Navy vessel, the frigate Defensora, arrived at Walvis Bay on Tuesday for the 30th anniversary of Brazilian-Namibian naval cooperation.

The visit, which will be open to the public until tomorrow, aims to highlight the partnership between the two countries, affirms Brazil’s commitment to strengthening maritime relations with partners in Africa, and support collaborative efforts to promote the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic.

“The naval partnership, symbolised by the visit of the Defensora frigate, is one of the main areas of cooperation both countries enjoy.

They are rooted in the Agreement for Naval Cooperation signed on 4 March 1994 thirty years ago,” the Brazilian authorities say.

Brazil’s and Namibia’s naval cooperation could significantly improve areas like trade, maritime security, and environmental protection.

“Brazil favours the increase of our bilateral trade relations using the port of Walvis Bay as an entry point for Brazilian products to reach southern African countries, using the high quality of the Namibian terrestrial corridors.

“Namibia is Brazil’s shortest sea route to southern Africa, compared to Angola and South Africa.

This could allow for lower costs for traders.

On the other hand, Namibian products can also reach Brazil through the ports of Sao Paulo, Parana, or Rio de Janeiro,” the embassy says.

It says maritime security is crucial as Namibia explores off-shore oil in the Orange Basin.

“With regard to maritime security, it is an important area to pay attention to as Namibia considers the development of off-shore oil exploration in the Orange Basin. A strong navy is key to providing security for oil platforms against crimes at sea. “This is an important element in the building of a South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone,” the embassy says.

The naval mission of Brazil in Namibia was created on the same day that Namibia’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, visited the frigate to sign the naval agreement.

“Namibia and Brazil established formal diplomatic relations with the independence of Namibia in 1990, yet the friendship between the two countries goes back further and deeper.

“The establishment of the Brazilian Marines Advisory Technical Team at Walvis Bay in 2009 enabled more focused training, ultimately leading to the formation of the Namibian Marine Corps in 2016.

“Over the course of three decades, these and many other initiatives have continually strengthened the partnership between Namibia and Brazil, bringing the countries together as ocean-bonded neighbours,” the Brazilian embassy says.

The commander of the Defensora frigate, captain Gustavo Almeida Matos de Carvalho, says: “Conducting operational exercises with the Namibian Navy is always timely as it allows us to improve our interoperability and reinforce our capabilities to work together to promote the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, making our waters safer and more prosperous.”