Peru, Bolivia, navy and merchant marine

Peru and Bolivia. When the logic disappears: Maritime country without Merchant Marine and Navy without sea

South America Map

The countries that have sea must necessarily have a Marinan of War to defend the coasts of the enemies, protect their inhabitants and fishermen, or make patrols avoiding illegal acts. In this case, the existence of a naval school and the naval fleet of military ships is natural.

When economic activity is important, the country could also have a Merchant Marine, a group of ships that, with the national flag, are dedicated to the movement of cargo and passengers through the seas of the world. The Merchant Navy is a source of work, currency or monetary reserves, and eventually a source of pride or identification of the country.

The logic does not work sometimes, in any country or circumstance, but in underdeveloped countries and without defined leadership, the absurd situations overcome the most delirious and overflowing imagination.

Bolivia (observe the location on the map of South America) is a country without coast, however, it has Navy and Naval Academy.

Photos Bolivia

In contrast, Peru has one of the richest seas in the world and more than 2000 kilometers of coastline, but has no Merchant Marine. A paradox because the country has enormous productive potential and opportunities in maritime trade. Corruption, incompetence, lack of leadership can explain this absurd situation.

I left the bullet for you to judge the situation from your own point of view.

An important clarification. In this post there is no intention of mockery. It is strangeness, a question about a reality that escapes logic. Any country with an extensive coastline and a huge economic potential has its own merchant marine to carry and bring products, raw materials and manufactures. That generates employment, foreign exchange and national pride. Liberia, with only 10% of the area of ​​Peru, has its Merchant Marine (2,700 ships approx.); Singapore that does not even appear on the map has its fleet with approximately 1700 ships. Imagine the advantages that this situation generates for both countries.

In the case of Bolivia, is it not cause for surprise that they have that marine vocation? They do not have sea, but they act as if they had it. In any case, that attitude should serve as an example. "You must have dreams, but be ready for when they come true." And in the marine sense, I think Bolivia does that. You have to see the irony, but you also have to read between the lines.

What is proactivity? Instead of defining, I take Bolivia as a living and active example of that concept, in that context. Imagine that every day a ship like these leaves a Peruvian port with a Peruvian flag. If Bolivia had a sea, a sovereign coastal territory and a Bolivian port, I do not think it would be risky to think that they would have their own merchant marine.