INTRODUCTION

History abounds with examples of countries that became great and powerful based on the might of their naval forces. From Grecian times, to the British empire at its mighty zenith in the nineteenth century as a result of its naval supremacy, nations were able to exert their national aspirations by naval force.

In modern times, more particularly since the end of the Second World War, the role of navies has changed somewhat. However, no one would dispute that the naval might of the two superpowers during the Cold War had a definite deterrent effect.

In global terms, the world is in a relatively peaceful period. The question could be asked what the role of the Navy is in peacetime.

The Navy still has an essential role to play today. It has the task to protect the country from hostile activity along its coastline. Furthermore, its functions have been expanded to include a variety of peacetime activities, such as the protection of maritime resources and support for meteorological research.

From a South African perspective, the South African Navy, has recently received extensive media coverage, among others on the proposed renewal and updating of its fleet. The reaction of the general public has been to question, perhaps rightly so, proposed procurements in the light of current challenges facing the South African Government to meet the basic needs of its people with regard to health, housing, education and employment. However, it is equally the right of the South African Navy to state its case in an environment conducive to rational debate on this very sensitive issue.

Ultimately, it is the task of the South African Navy to convince the public that a strong navy will contribute to the prosperity of South Africa in particular, and Southern Africa in general.

Since 1990, while South Africa was in a transitional period that led to its first democratic elections, the world also underwent its own process of transition. The 'bipolar world' of the Cold War era made way for a 'multipolar world'. New economic and regional groupings were formed, ranging from an expanded European Union (EU) to the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mercosur, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a 'new' Southern African Development Community (SADC). Security issues were changing fundamentally and peacekeeping, peacemaking and other areas, such as arms control, required revision and redefinition.

South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Nzo, described this process in the following terms, in September 1995: "Our operational environment has changed dramatically. The end of the Cold War has created a new global situation in which our young democracy must find its feet. The new world order, if it exists at all, is fraught with uncertainties and insecurities. Ideological conflict has to a large extent been replaced by economic competition, the rules for which have not yet been fully agreed upon. The ground beneath our feet is not firm: It is volatile and unpredictable. Yet it is our primary task to secure and promote the sovereign integrity of the South African State, as well as the security and welfare of its citizens. These are the considerations which ultimately determine everything we do in the conduct of our foreign relations."

Security issues fall within the domain of foreign policy and international relations, as they affect relations between states and influence the promotion of the national interests of countries in the international sphere. They extend much further than defence matters. In recent years, new dimensions have become increasingly important in international security. These include regional conflict resolution and peacekeeping, drug trafficking, illegal arms trading, non-proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, migration and refugees. These important international trends affect, in a very direct sense, the formulation of foreign policy and the promotion of sound international relations.

THE SA NAVY'S ROLE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

South Africa is inextricably linked to the future of the African continent, and neither can escape the impact of the new world order. In the formulation and implementation of South Africa's foreign policy on the continent, particular attention will have to be focused on

measures to prevent conflict;



the monitoring of events;



involvement in concerted preventive diplomacy; and



ways to influence the emergence of a constructive new order on the continent in a positive and significant manner.

South Africa's first foreign policy priority is the Southern African region, with the country having assumed the role of chairperson of SADC. While this regional grouping has concentrated solely on economic and development issues in the past, the co ordination of political and security interests in the region has recently become an additional and important focus point.

During the last two years, the management of conflict as a prerequisite for economic development has dominated the discussion on regionalism. It has led to the realisation that there is a need to establish a mechanism to manage, resolve and prevent conflict in the region. With the establishment of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security in June 1996, SADC has assumed the responsibility for conflict prevention in the region and has become an example to other regional organisations on the African continent.

Conflict management through preventive diplomacy is not only applicable to most known forms of political conflict, but also applies to conflict arising from a lack of security in other fields, such as employment, lack of water or other scarce resources, environmental and drought-related issues common to the Southern African region. The SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security is not merely a mechanism for crisis management, but should also give attention to issues such as human rights and migration trends. By analysing and addressing those factors responsible for possible conflict, a proactive role in addition to preventive diplomacy, can possibly be played. Although the modalities of the Organ have not yet been finalised, it becomes clear against this background why the Organ was described at its launch as the foremost institution of SADC. It is also becoming obvious that a transfer of technology will be needed to empower officials to perform the necessary functions of peacekeeping, conflict management and preventive diplomacy.

The new SADC, focusing on both socio-economic and political issues, can now consider the needs of the region holistically. It has become possible, therefore, to address political and socio-economic issues simultaneously throughout the region.

The South African Navy is at present reaping the result of past policies. These directed much of the defence budget towards the other branches of the former South African Defence Force. Clearly, outdated and obsolete equipment is preventing the Navy from effectively exercising its maritime function to defend South Africa's coastline of 3 000 km and its interests within the Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ). The Navy's usefulness as a foreign policy tool is severely curtailed and needs to be addressed urgently.

NAVAL DIPLOMACY

With regard to South Africa's foreign policy objectives, naval power can be utilised in various ways. In peacetime, the Navy can play a role in naval diplomacy, it can contribute to South Africa's commitment to help to maintain international peace and security, to safeguard the environment, and it can assist in preventing the proliferation of arms.

Naval diplomacy is related to those official visits by naval ships that fly the national ensign within the territorial waters of another state, without actually invading or intruding its land or air space. This is an important symbolic sign and projection of bilateral or multilateral friendship. These symbolic gestures should not be underestimated in their value to strengthen ties between countries. Since 1994, South Africa has welcomed a host of foreign naval vessels in its harbours on courtesy visits to the country. Similarly, the oceans of the world have opened to the South African Navy, which has already participated in exercises with foreign navies, attended commemorative celebrations, apart from courtesy visits being paid to many foreign ports.

South Africa's commitment to the maintenance of international peace and security will be facilitated, among others, through the ability of the South African Navy to assist in humanitarian relief operations and, when South Africa is able to do so, peacekeeping missions. In this regard, the Navy's combat support ships can assist with the transport of humanitarian disaster relief provisions and equipment, and the transport of necessities for peacekeeping missions. It could be required to act as a deterrent to warring factions when South Africa is involved in peacekeeping or peace enforcement operations.

THE SA NAVY'S ROLE IN PROTECTING THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

During the last several years, the coastal zones of the world have leapt to the forefront of global environmental attention. Already, more than sixty per cent of the world's population is found along a narrow strip of about sixty kilometres wide at the edges of the continents. By the year 2025, this number will increase to 75 per cent.

The shoreline of Eastern Africa, including the island states, extends over a distance of 11 000 linear kilometres and is inhabited by 30 to 35 million people. Perceived economic opportunities act as magnets for large numbers of people who migrate to the coast. In some countries, at least eighty per cent of the population are considered to be coastal. Consequent environmental degradation as human activity and presence increase, forecloses the future sustainability of development.

Against this background, the Navy will play a more important role in assuring the sustainability of South Africa's, and on request, Southern Africa's valuable marine resources. In this regard, the Navy was recently unfortunately unable to assist with the monitoring of illegal fishing activities in South Africa's territorial waters, due to the absence of key naval ships.

CONCLUSION

The South African Navy is not just important for the defence of the country's maritime and territorial interests, but is also essential for other priorities, such as the protection of marine resources and the enhancement of regional security. Contrary to the predictions of many doomsayers, there are at present signs of growing hope and increasing optimism in the future throughout Africa.

In many African countries and in the Southern African region, significant progress has been made over recent years in building stronger economies and in meeting the needs of the people in critical sectors such as education, health and the provision of basic social services.

At the same time, the challenge to achieve meaningful people-centred and sustainable development remains a daunting one for much of Africa. South Africa cannot escape having to rise to this challenge and the South African Navy has its role to play in this process.