The Southern Ocean – encompassing Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic territories – demands a more central place in South Africa's strategic planning and national policy priorities. Although the country launched its Antarctic and Southern Ocean Strategy in 2021, sustained and elevated attention to the region remains necessary. Assessing developments over the past decade, this report identifies both continuities and shifts in a rapidly evolving landscape.

About the author

Daniela Marggraff is a Junior Research Officer in the Department of History, Heritage and Tourism at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and a research consultant on maritime security at the Institute for Security Studies. Her research focuses on ocean governance and maritime affairs, including the foreign policy of Small Island Developing States and Large Ocean States, the militarisation of islands in the Indo-Pacific, and the strategic significance of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.