Sao Tome and Principe

Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 180th
MPR SCORE: 141
MPR Index: 0.0152 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.9333 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.813 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

São Tomé and Príncipe ranks 136th in the 2024 Military Power Rankings. As a small island state in the Gulf of Guinea, the country maintains a modest but functional military, primarily focused on internal security, maritime patrol, and the protection of its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The national military, known as the Armed Forces of São Tomé and Príncipe (FASTP), plays a critical role in domestic security, anti-smuggling operations, and disaster response.

Given its limited defense infrastructure and resource constraints, São Tomé and Príncipe relies heavily on international partnerships, particularly with Portugal, the United States, and regional maritime coalitions, for training, equipment, and surveillance support. Its military doctrine is non-offensive, focusing on deterrence through cooperation.

Military Strengths

São Tomé and Príncipe’s defense strengths lie in its strategic maritime geography, international partnerships, and functional coast guard integration.

1. Maritime Security Across Vital Gulf Routes

The FASTP operates patrol boats and coastal surveillance systems to monitor and secure waters around its oil-rich maritime zone, countering illegal fishing, smuggling, and piracy threats from the Gulf of Guinea.
Supported by U.S. Navy AFRICOM, Portuguese Naval Command, and ECOWAS Maritime Coordination Centers.

2. Foreign Military Assistance and Training Programs

Receives training missions, equipment transfers, and surveillance support from Portugal, Angola, and the United States.
Participates in Exercise Obangame Express and African maritime security dialogues, focusing on coastal interoperability and domain awareness.

3. Internal Stability and Civil Assistance Role

Military personnel are also deployed for domestic law enforcement support, infrastructure protection, and natural disaster response, especially on São Tomé Island, where terrain limits mobility.

4. Strategic Maritime Location

The islands are located near critical oil shipping lanes and emerging offshore gas reserves, giving the country increasing importance in West African maritime security planning.

Why São Tomé and Príncipe Is Still Ranked 136th

Small Personnel Base and Limited Force Projection
- The total force is estimated at under 500 active personnel, organized into naval, infantry, and support elements.
- There is no capacity for external deployment, offensive operations, or reserve mobilization.
No Air Force or Long-Range Defense Systems
- São Tomé and Príncipe lacks combat aviation, missile defenses, and any form of air surveillance outside of foreign-assisted radar systems.
No Strategic Deterrent or High-End Weapons Systems
- The FASTP is equipped with light arms, interceptors, and patrol craft, but has no tanks, artillery, or modern combat platforms.
Heavy Dependence on External Security Partners
- Much of the country’s defense planning, logistics, and technical support is managed or supplied by Portugal, the U.S., and regional coalitions.

Conclusion

São Tomé and Príncipe maintains a small, focused defense force, geared toward coastal security, national sovereignty, and internal stability. While its Armed Forces (FASTP) have limited autonomous military power, they are integrated into a broader framework of regional maritime partnerships and international security programs. Its MPR score reflects low conventional strength, offset by strategic geography and functional cooperation with foreign defense stakeholders.

Military Strength and Force Projection

Active Military Personnel: 1,000 (Sao Tome and Principe Armed Forces)
Reserve Personnel: None
Paramilitary Forces: 200 (Police and Gendarmerie)
Army Personnel: 800
Navy Personnel (Coast Guard): 200
Air Force Personnel: None

Ground Forces

Sao Tome and Principe's ground forces are small, equipped primarily for internal security and disaster response rather than large-scale military operations.

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): None
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): None
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): None

Air Wing

Sao Tome and Principe does not maintain an air force. Air security is provided through cooperation with regional and international partners.

Naval Forces (Coast Guard)

The coast guard is the primary maritime force, tasked with patrolling the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and combating illegal fishing and smuggling.

Patrol Boats: 2

Missile Capabilities

Sao Tome and Principe does not possess missile systems or nuclear capabilities. Its focus is on maintaining territorial integrity and ensuring maritime security in collaboration with regional partners.

Strategic Partnerships

Sao Tome and Principe benefits from military assistance and training provided by Portugal, as well as other international organizations. The nation also cooperates with regional partners in the Gulf of Guinea to counter piracy and secure its maritime borders.

Military History & Combat Experience

Cape Verde has no history of external war or military conflict. Its armed forces have evolved through post-colonial transformation, civil policing functions, and international cooperation missions.

Post-Independence Force Formation (1975–1990s):
After independence from Portugal in 1975, Cape Verde established the FACV with a focus on internal sovereignty, national policing, and border protection. The military was designed for stability and deterrence, not external operations.
Security Sector Reform and Professionalization:
In the 1990s and 2000s, Cape Verde began integrating its military and police under democratic civilian control. Reforms emphasized interoperability, human rights training, and anti-trafficking coordination, especially with European partners.
Maritime Security and Transnational Crime (2000s–Present):
Cape Verde emerged as a key node in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal fishing, conducting boarding operations, patrol coordination, and surveillance sharing with U.S. Navy, Portuguese Navy, and INTERPOL agencies.
Peacekeeping and Regional Engagement:
Cape Verde has contributed to ECOWAS security missions, African peacekeeping planning, and international disaster response protocols, gaining soft power influence despite its military limitations.

Cape Verde’s armed forces have never participated in full-scale combat, but their functional capability in law enforcement, coastal security, and international diplomacy make them an integral part of Atlantic security governance.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

Population: ~230,000 (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~90,000
Geographic Area: 964 km²
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Bordering Countries: None (island nation)
Coastline: 209 km
Climate: Tropical; hot and humid with one wet and one dry season
Terrain: Volcanic, mountainous, heavily forested islands
Natural Resources: Fish, cocoa, hydropower, possible offshore oil
Proven Oil Reserves: None (offshore reserves under exploration)
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: None

Economic Indicators

Defense Budget (2025): ~$20 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.5%
GDP (PPP): ~$1.1 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$4,700
External Debt: ~$450 million USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Flat; focused on coast guard and port protection

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Maritime patrol, internal security, anti-piracy
Military Industry Base: None
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: None
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Armed Forces of São Tomé and Príncipe under Ministry of Defense
Missile Inventory Highlights: None; light arms and coastal patrol equipment only
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Low; 60–90 days
Reservist Force Size: ~1,000

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: Military Intelligence Unit under National Guard
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: Portugal, United States, Gulf of Guinea states
Airports (Total): 2
Major Military Airports: São Tomé International Airport (dual-use)

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

Merchant Marine Fleet: Very small
Major Ports: São Tomé
Naval Infrastructure: Coast Guard with patrol boats for EEZ surveillance
Naval Replenishment Capability: Minimal

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

Railway Network: None
Roadways: ~1,300 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

Oil Production: None
Energy Imports: Nearly total reliance on imported fuel
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Very limited

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

Domestic Defense Production: None
Military Installations (Domestic): São Tomé, Neves
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Occasional Portuguese and U.S. naval cooperation teams
Defense Alliances: Bilateral agreements with Portugal, U.S.; Gulf of Guinea maritime partnerships
Strategic Airlift Capability: None
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Extremely low