Inevitable for several reasons, the first being a consequence of the logical option for the so-called “Economic Diplomacy”, which the political-economic crisis of 2011 forced. New Government always forces new ideas, which are as creative as possible and the entry into Non-Traditional Markets, always follows a lengthy path and is carried out, step by step, step by step. That is why there are Portuguese troops in the Central African Republic and the GNR is also already training in the Sahel, as part of GARSI-Sahel, the Rapid Surveillance and Intervention Action Group.
And, for this reason too, Portugal decided to join the Task Force Force Takuba (Saber in Tamasheq), operating in Niger and Mali, together with France, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands and probably Sweden, if the participation proposal is approved in the “Riksdagen”, the Swedish Parliament.
The second reason for this investment in porous and unknown lands, is related to the historical competitiveness that we have always had in Africa with France. If they are always trying to interfere with our Portuguese-speaking interests, the time has come for us to enter them through the “backyard” and through the front door. This establishes a first basis for a projection of a broader and safer future economic and commercial strength. In Africa, the secret is to have a friend in the hegemonic Party and a General “in your pocket”, which sometimes becomes even cheaper when both are coincident! And then we have to know how to take advantage of the love-hate relationship between ex-colonized and ex-colonizer, which is nothing strange to us.
A third reason has to do with the need to have a stronger and more assertive voice within the European Union (EU). In other words, Portugal was one of the first EU countries to completely reject the Franco-German proposal for the constitution of a Single European Army. Two immediate conclusions to be drawn from this decision:
– The first is that in the Academic debate on “What is this bloc that we call the EU?”, Portugal is tacitly saying / assuming that it feels much more comfortable being part of a Confederation, showing no interest in that the next step be taken towards the constitution of a “de facto” Federation with the consequent loss of Sovereignty over its / our Defense. By the way, that’s why Billions of Euros were spent on two submarines. If this whole sea in front of us was not monitored by us, someone would have to do it! – The second conclusion, being a NATO Founding Member, we reaffirm in this way our Atlanticist and non-Europeanist side, keeping the left foot in Brussels the right in Washington and a clinical look at our interests in Africa, which now no longer are limited to the PALOP “s.
In conclusion of this reasoning, Portugal leaves the usual “half-dyes”, defining itself before its partners about who it is and what it wants from Europe, making also clear what they can expect from us, at least in the insurance sphere.
Tasks of the Task-Force Takuba
Announced at the end of March, with intentions to be on the ground already in the summer, it intends to be fully operational by the beginning of 2021 and its main competences will be to monitor the actions of Malian troops in the fight against jihadist groups that rage across northern Mali. In addition to this monitoring, “Takuba” will also have the function of training and advising the Malian military (this is what is on paper), and over time it is possible that this monitoring, training and advice will also extend to the Multinational force that makes up MINUSMA (United Nations Integrated Multidimensional Mission for the Stabilization of Mali), mainly made up of local troops but also from Bangladesh and Senegal. These are not smaller troops, but contingents that will benefit greatly from the methods and, above all, from the technology used by Europeans. On the other hand, Europeans will also have a lot to learn from the locals, about the terrain in which they operate, thus realizing cooperation and the mutual gains paradigm.
Still on MINUSMA, mention that the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) also integrates this United Nations Mission and had planned for May to send another Detachment with a C-295 aircraft, for 6 months, but whose virus has postponed. Also add 2 FAP officers, 2 from PSP and 1 from GNR, seconded to MINUSMA’s General Staff in Bamako, Capital of Mali. That said, Portugal could not stay out of “Takuba”, so it confirms its interest in “non-traditional” for Portugal in Africa.
What was not clear at the time of the announcement of this European / French initiative was the scope of this Multinational Force, which now seems clear, since it is also already on paper, which will be under the command of Barkane Force, another important actor in the Region, which includes more than 5,000 French military personnel and their air and ground apparatus. This hierarchical definition makes it clear who is in charge and who is setting the priorities for this vast region of porous borders that includes Mauritania, Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger and Chad, a whole “Living Space” for France in Africa, which sees the Portuguese presence increasingly imposing itself through the door of International Cooperation.
The Author writes according to the old spelling.
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