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CHAPTER 2: THE U.S. NATIONAL INTERESTS IN THE GULF OF GUINEA
2.1. The concept of national interest
International Relations as a discipline assumes that interest is the fundamental motive for relations between states. For example, realism argues that foreign policy elites should base their decisions on interests rather than values, and that powerful states can coexist even if they have different values and beliefs1. One of the most prominent theorists of realism is the German-born Hans J. Morgenthau who immigrated and served as foreign policy consultant for several U.S. administrations. He is known for his masterpiece entitled Politics among nations: the struggle for power and peace. According to him national interest refers to survival. The identity, unity and integrity of the state must be preserved against any challenge by other political entities.
Thomas W. Robinson examines the interest which a nation seeks to secure. He synthesized Both Morgenthau (1951) and Dinesh (2010) agreement on the typology of national interest. He sees six different types of national interests:
The Primary Interests:
What matters here is the preservation of territorial integrity of the state as well as its cultural specificity.
Secondary Interests:
On the basis of this type of interest the state has the duty to protect its citizens living in foreign lands as well as diplomatic personnels.
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2.2. Maritime security:A must for the preservation of the U.S.’ interests.
After understanding the concept of national interest in its larger sense, it is now obvious that, in world politics, states have no permanent enemies nor friends but permanent interests as stated by Henry Kissinger. That is to say that what determines any state action in the international realm is its interests. Therefore, the United State goes in line with that international principle. In order to secure its economic interests in that maritime space they take several actions to combat all sorts of illegal acts. The region is of a great importance because of it natural resources, for an oil and gas-reliant economy like that of the U.S. which by 2020 will import from the Gulf of Guinea 25 percent of its demand to supply its industries.
These U.S. not only has interests in the Gulf of Guinea because of it natural resources, but also for its strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the GoG is a shipping transit hub in West Africa as 90 percent of external trade depends on shipping. The U.S. and China alongside other countries import and export goods via the GoG maritime space. Because of its economic importance illicit activities are carried out in the region by criminal networks which are well-organised to jeopardize these countries interests. That why they play a crucial role to maintain security in the region. The U.S. provides all kinds of technical and financial supports to Gulf of Guinea countries in order to help them push back threat posed by those criminals at not only off-shore but also at onshore.
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CHAPTER 3: STRATEGIC IMPORTANACE AND MARITIME SECURITY DYNAMICS OF THE GULF OF GUINEA ............9
3.1. Strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea .................... 9
3.1.1. Economic relevance of the region ........................... 9
3.1.2. Diversity of economic actors in play in the region................... 10
CHAPTER 4: THE U.S
