Brazil
Country Spotlight
Although it once engaged in nuclear competition with Argentina, Brazil renounced its interest in nuclear weapons and curtailed ballistic missile development after the ouster of its military government in the 1990’s. The country currently operates an extensive civil nuclear program and is constructing a nuclear-powered submarine. It has never developed chemical or biological weapons.
See Brazil's performance in
Region South America, Central America, and the Caribbean
1967 Signed Treaty of Tlatelolco, joining the Latin America Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone
1991 Agreed to binational nuclear safeguards with Argentina
1 Nuclear attack submarine (SSN) under development
Nuclear
- NEWS: Began negotiations with the IAEA in June 2022 on safeguards and procedures regarding use of nuclear fuel in its submarine program
- Nuclear weapons program ended 1990; never developed weapon
- Two nuclear power reactors and advanced fuel cycle capabilities
- Currently developing nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN)
Brazil’s Nuclear Ambitions, Past and Present
Biological
- 1991 Mendoza Agreement with Argentina prohibits all biological weapons activities
- Possesses large quantities of castor bean (a natural source of ricin) and knowledge of dual-use biotechnology techniques
- Large, rapidly growing biotechnology sector

Tutorial on Biological Weapons Nonproliferation
Brazil Overview
Missile
- Abandoned indigenous ballistic missile program in the 1990s
- SSN capable of deploying cruise and anti-ship missiles
- Possesses and developing anti-ship cruise missiles and air defense missiles
Brazil Submarine Capabilities

Tutorial on Missiles and Other WMD Delivery Systems
Chemical
- No evidence of developing or producing chemical weapons
- Charter member of the OPCW
- 1991 Mendoza Agreement with Argentina prohibits all chemical weapons activities

Tutorial on Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation

NTI Tutorials
Treaties and Regimes Memberships
Analysis
Brazil

Past Event
Latin America Regional Workshop on Strengthening the NPT Regime: Priorities for the 2020 NPT RevCon

Not One-Sided: The Many Benefits of the New START Nuclear Arms Reduction Treaty
Brazil Overview

Education Center