Segurança marítima internacional e poder naval: uma análise entre a teoria de Geoffrey Till e as operações internacionais no Golfo da Áden e Mar Vermelho

Abstract

The growing dependence on international maritime trade and the proliferation of asymmetric threats have highlighted the importance of protecting Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) in the context of global security. This dissertation examines the practical application of contemporary maritime power concepts, as proposed by Geoffrey Till in his work Seapower: A Guide for the Twenty-First Century (2018), to the operational reality of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, particularly during the peak of Somali piracy between 2008 and 2012. The research is structured around three core theoretical pillars: (i) maritime power as a multifunctional strategic instrument; (ii) the principles of sea control in varying degrees; and (iii) cooperative strategies for maritime trade protection against asymmetric threats. Through empirical analysis of actions undertaken by naval coalitions such as the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), the study identifies a degree of convergence between theory and practice, especially in the combined use of military deterrence, naval diplomacy, regional capacity-building, and multinational interoperability. Brazil’s leadership of the CTF-151 task force on four occasions is examined as a successful example of naval soft power and the country’s qualified contribution to global maritime security. At the same time, the study identifies structural and operational limitations that hinder the full application of the theory, such as the lack of a common legal framework for prosecuting pirates, weak coastal state institutions, and the growing complexity of hybrid threats, including drone attacks. The findings suggest that Till’s theoretical framework remains robust and relevant for understanding the defense of maritime traffic, but its effective implementation requires appropriate political, institutional, and technological conditions to enable integrated, adaptive, and sustainable responses. The experience in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea provides valuable lessons on the importance of international coordination, persistent naval presence, and civil-military integration.