Global Security Newswire

Latin American heavyweights Brazil and Argentina pledged to work together to keep nuclear weapons out of their region even while both nations are ramping up their atomic energy plans, United Press International reported on Wednesday (see GSN, Jan. 10).

The joint statement from Brasilia and Buenos Aires touted their strategic partnership and said they would lobby to establish the South Atlantic region as a nuclear weapon-free zone.

Brazil's nuclear efforts date to the 1930s, while Argentina began its atomic operations in the 1950s. Under past military governments, both states secretly studied nuclear weapons, though neither pursued actual development.

Brazil is proficient on a nonindustrial level in all core components of the nuclear fuel cycle. In January, the nation's energy minister announced plans to this year authorize plans construction of four new atomic energy plants. The nation is also working on its first nuclear-fueled submarine.

Argentina last year reopened a mothballed uranium enrichment plant. The country is also attempting to develop nuclear propulsion for navy vessels (see GSN, Oct. 26, 2010; United Press International, Sept. 7).