Venezuela
Country Spotlight
Venezuela has never possessed biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. It does not maintain a ballistic missile program but has cooperated closely with Russia and Iran on defense issues. Under former President Chavez, Venezuela expressed interest in developing nuclear energy capabilities, but ongoing financial challenges have put these plans on hold.
See Venezuela's performance in:
Region South America, Central America, and the Caribbean
1970 Ratified the Treaty of Tlatelolco, establishing a nuclear weapon-free zone in Latin America
1983 Signed an agreement with Brazil to facilitate cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy
2012 Began producing UAVs with Iranian assistance
Nuclear
- Has never possessed or seriously pursued nuclear weapons; ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in 2018
- Signed a general agreement on nuclear cooperation with Russia in 2008 and considers Russia an ally. Russia has flown Tupolev nuclear-capable bombers to Venezuela three times since 2008.
- Collaborated with Iran to search for uranium deposits in 2009
Venezuela’s Search for Nuclear Power – or Nuclear Prestige
Biological
- Has never possessed an offensive biological weapons program
- Adopted legislation prohibiting the acquisition, manufacture, and development of chemical and biological weapons
Tutorial on Biological Weapons Nonproliferation
Venezuela Overview
Missile
- Does not possess ballistic missile programs
- Has acquired Chinese and Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles
- Possesses Russian-made MANPADS and long-range S-300 surface-to-air missiles
Overview of The CNS Missile and SLV Launch Databases
Tutorial on Missiles and Other WMD Delivery Systems
Chemical
- Has never possessed an offensive chemical weapons program
- Adopted legislation prohibiting the acquisition, manufacture, and development of chemical and biological weapons
Tutorial on Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation
NTI Tutorials
Treaties and Regimes Memberships
Analysis
Venezuela
Venezuela Overview
Overview of Venezuela's nuclear, chemical, biological, and missile capabilities and nonproliferation activities.
NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index: Building a Framework for Assurance, Accountability and Action
Venezuela’s Search for Nuclear Power – or Nuclear Prestige
Education Center