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FASTP - International Cooperation

The FASTP sufferers a shortage means and lack of well trained and prepared staff. The armed forces of Sao Tome and Principe should assume a key role in the external relations of the country. Regional and international plans especially note the increasing geostrategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea, an area in which the country belongs. To this end, the São Tomean authorities have followed a strategy of deepening cooperation with international partners.

With regard to defense cooperation with Russia, the leading role of Russia in official training FASTP until 1990, insofar as the vast majority of senior officers are-Sao Tome received training in the academies of that country or of the old Soviet Republics. It was in the former USSR and to a lesser in Cuba, especially at the level of underlings, the officers of São Tomé and Príncipe received Soviet training. Consequently the military doctrine adopted was Soviet-inspired. It is of note that soon after independence, STP established a one-party regime in line with the East block, and almost all of the weaponry and FASTP equipment is still today from the Soviet Union. However, with the fall of the Berlin wall Berlin and the disintegration of the Soviet bloc, the cooperation on Defense and security with Russia has been virtually dormant.

There is at present a resumption of cooperation between the two countries, which in 2013 had army officers and the coast guard of the armed forces of Sao Tome and Principe, back to be trained in the Russian Federation. Started in 2012 the training of National Police officers São Tomé at the Police Academy of Russia, grading the commitment of both countries strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and security.

STP has a limited operational capacity, whether in the maritime defense of the considerable Exclusive economic zone of the country, or in terms of regional security. The modernization of the armed forces and the media at its disposal must be carefully considered through a weighting between effective needs, the level of ambition and the economic situation of the country. For an implementation of the upgrading needed for this effort, FASTP be based on international defense cooperation, with Portugal's leading partners, USA, France, Russia and Angola.

Portugal has been one of the main partners of São Tomé and Príncipe, in the field of defense, in particular, support the upper structure of the armed forces, in the formation of the coast guard, in the development of maritime signalling and scope of military engineering.

In 2011 the first course of formation of officers and non-commissioned officers of the armed forces held in Sao Tome, this project with technical support, material and financial cooperation of Portugal, which were formed about 70 of the military. The course included in the program restructuring of the armed forces, in order to better prepare the forces Sao Tome are armed for missions that may be called to play both Central Africa within the CPLP.

France has provided support through the training of the paintings, in particular in achieving FASTP joint exercises at the level of the ground forces, as well as on technical assistance with a view the drafting of the law on military Programming São Tomé and Príncipe. This strengthening of the political-military French cooperation with São Tomé and Príncipe to which it has assisted due in part to the location of the archipelago heart of the Gulf of Guinea, strategic position key in the context of the conflicts which have registered on the Mainland, and may constitute a important basis for transporting logistical support enforcement missions or peacekeeping in Africa, where France has been focusing. The cooperation between these two countries at the level of Defense has known French developments in much if should the design of the -Sao Tome authorities to participate in the exercises the military carried out in the subregion of Africa Central, where France has been supporting their countries in the construction of a military force joint peacekeeping in the sub-region.

As regards relations with Angola, countries are longtime partners, having practically Since independence a close collaboration between both Armed Forces, which translates, in particular, in the presence of Angolan forces Sao Tome, stabilization or in training of sergeants of FASTP in Angola.

The United States of America, strongly committed to on regional stability by supporting the consolidation of democracy, the fight against terrorism and piracy, as well as the promotion energy and maritime security, has been a permanent partner of Sao Tome and Principe. The Africa Partnership Station [APS] is one in a series of activities designed to build maritime safety and security in Africa in a comprehensive and collaborative manner, focusing first on the Gulf of Guinea. It responds to specific African requests for assistance, is aligned with broad international community and U.S. objectives, and is reflective of the mission of the U.S. Africa Command. It seeks to take partnerships into action in a concerted interagency and multinational effort to promote maritime governance around Africa. APS is inspired by the belief that effective maritime safety and security will contribute to development, economic prosperity, and security ashore.