Mozambique: A Strategic Partner for America

Posted: March 21st, 2017

By Miguel Ferreira da Silva

Dr. Miguel Ferreira da Silva is an academic researcher and expert in Security, Intelligence and International Affairs, particularly in matters related to Africa. Currently the Director of the Commission for Study and Strategy of the Governance of the Sea, Energy and Environment, at Lusófona University. Previously he was the Senior Portuguese Representative at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (Washington, D.C.), from 2012 to 2015, and political attaché at the Embassy of Portugal to the U.S.A. He graduated in Law, and completed post graduate studies in Political Science and International Relations at the Portuguese Catholic University. He also holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham (U.K.) and specializations in Counterterrorism as well as in Security and Intelligence. Dr. Ferreira da Silva started his career as a Legal Advisor to the Public Sector, taught at the University of Nottingham, served as a Portuguese foreign intelligence officer and is a Senior Legal Advisor at the Portuguese Media Regulating Authority.

Focusing on threats and short-term planning often leads to missed opportunities by governments. Insight is expected to be provided for immediate decision needs, while foresight becomes sidelined by more pressing current affairs. American positioning sometimes drifts away from building the conditions to project stable and enduring power, in favor of a more transactional approach to allies and adversaries.

Focusing on and investing in opportunities tends to avoid emergencies and unknown threats, while projecting American interests in a competitive world. Yet those mutually beneficial international partnerships are becoming more and more uncommon.

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