Cape Verde – an island group 570-kilometres off the coast of Western Africa - plans to set up partnerships with countries such as Portugal and Brazil to acquire aircraft to patrol and inspect Cape Verde’s territorial waters, the spokesman for the Council of the Cape Verdean Defence Ministry. Cited by Portuguese news agency Lusa, Major António Silva Rocha - who announced that Minister Jorge Tolentino would soon travel to Brazil to discuss the matter with his Brazilian counterpart - said that acquisition of the aircraft was a priority for 2012. “Negotiation with China for the acquisition of helicopters is at an advanced stage and we are seeking new partnerships for acquisition of fixed-wing aircraft (aeroplanes), which are important for sea patrols and search and rescue operations,” he said. Silva Rocha did not give a figure for acquisition of the aircraft, nor did he say when they would be purchased. But last week, Tolentino gave assurances that Cape Verde’s air force would have the new aircraft in the next six months to patrol the country’s waters and to ensure there was effective prevention of international crime.
Cape Verde doing deal to acquire sea patrol aircraft
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