["< sod > in 2002, it was announced that a us naval facility would be established in the country, to be used mainly a stopover base for us military aircraft and ships transiting the area. < ref > { { cite news | url = http : / / news. bbc. co. uk / 2 / hi / business / 2210571. stm | title = us naval base to protect sao tome oil | date = 22 august 2002 | work = bbc news world edition | accessdate = 17 october 2016 } } < / ref > in late 2004, the us navy began exploring further options for maritime engagement in the gulf of guinea area, and delegates from sao tome and principle attended a conference in naples, italy, after which the us submarine tender uss'' emory s. land'' conducted a training mission in the area as part of steps towards the establishment of [ [ united states africa command ] ]. < ref > { { cite journal | url = https : / / www. brown. edu / initiatives / journal - world - affairs / sites / brown. edu. initiatives. journal - world - affairs / files / private / articles / 15. 1 _ pham. pdf | title = america ’ s new africa command : paradigm shift or step backwards? | journal = brown journal of world affairs | date = 2008 | issue = fall / winter | volume = xv | last = pham | first = j. peter | pages = 257 & ndash ; 272 } } < / ref > < eod > < sod > in 2002, it was announced that an unmanned us naval facility would be established in the country, to be used mainly a stopover base for us military aircraft and ships transiting the area. < ref > { { cite news | url = http : / / news. bbc. co. uk / 2 / hi / business / 2210571. stm | title = us naval base to protect sao tome oil | date = 22 august 2002 | work = bbc news 100 world edition | accessdate = 17 october 2016 } } < / ref > in late 2004, the us navy began exploring further options for maritime engagement in the gulf of guinea area, and delegates from sao tome and principle attended a conference in naples, italy, after which the us submarine tender uss'' emory s. land'' conducted a training mission in the area as part of steps towards the establishment of [ [ united states africa command ] ]. < ref > { { cite journal | url = https : / / www. brown. edu / initiatives / journal - world - affairs / sites / brown. edu. initiatives. journal - world - affairs / files / private / articles / 15. 1 _ pham. pdf | title = america ’ s new africa command : paradigm shift or step backwards? | journal = brown journal of world affairs | date = 2008 | issue = fall / winter | volume = xv | last = pham | first = j. peter | pages = 257 & ndash ; 272 } } < / ref > < eod >"]