Brazil Flag for 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 1990s. The country currently operates an extensive civil nuclear program and is constructing a nuclear-powered submarine. It has never developed chemical or biological weapons.

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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-powered attack submarine (SSN) under development

Nuclear

  • Nuclear weapons program ended 1990; never developed weapon
  • Two nuclear power reactors and advanced fuel cycle capabilities
  • Developing conventionally-armed nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN), negotiating with IAEA on safeguards regarding nuclear submarine fuel

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

Missile

  • Abandoned indigenous ballistic missile program in the 1990s
  • SSN will be capable of deploying cruise missiles
  • Developing anti-ship and land attack cruise missiles

Chemical

  • No evidence of developing or producing chemical weapons
  • Charter member of the OPCW
  • 1991 Mendoza Agreement with Argentina prohibits all chemical weapons activities

Treaties and Regimes Memberships

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NPT

The NPT is a treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons through the three pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

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ABACC

ABACC is a binational safeguards agency created by Argentina and Brazil in 1991 to ensure that the two countries are using nuclear materials strictly for peaceful purposes.

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Tlatelolco Treaty

The Tlatelolco Treaty prohibits Latin American states from acquiring, possessing, developing, testing or using nuclear weapons, and prohibits other countries from storing and deploying nuclear weapons on their territories.

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Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear explosion tests on Earth. It needs eight key countries to ratify before entry into force.

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