Argentina

Country Spotlight

From the 1960s to the early 1990s, Argentina’s nuclear program and missile activities led to concerns that the country was seeking to develop nuclear weapons or aid other countries in developing and delivering them. It has since eschewed nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons but retains an ambitious nuclear energy program.

Region South America, Central America, and the Caribbean

1st South American country to use nuclear energy

7% Of electricity produced by nuclear energy

Participant in U.S.-led Megaports Initiative, which prevents nuclear trafficking through seaports

Nuclear

Joined the Treaty of Tlatelolco in 1994, which established a nuclear weapons-free zone in South America
Has exported research reactors to Algeria, Australia, Egypt, and Peru
Established a bilateral inspection agency with Brazil to verify both countries’ pledges to only use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes

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Tutorial on Nuclear 101

Teaching Tool

Tutorial on Nuclear 101

Tutorial on Nuclear and Radiological Security

Teaching Tool

Tutorial on Nuclear and Radiological Security

Biological

Has never possessed or attempted to acquire biological weapons
Signed the Mendoza Accord with Chile and Brazil in 1991, which commits to not use, produce, develop, gain, or transfer directly or indirectly biological or chemical weapons

Tutorial on Biological Weapons Nonproliferation

Teaching Tool

Tutorial on Biological Weapons Nonproliferation

Algeria Overview

Fact Sheet

Algeria Overview

Missile

Dismantled its medium-range ballistic missile program, the Cóndor II, in 1992
Received funding for its missile program from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq

Argentina Missile Overview

Fact Sheet

Argentina Missile Overview

Argentina Missile Facilities

Fact Sheet

Argentina Missile Facilities

Chemical

Has never possessed or attempted to acquire chemical weapons
Member of the Australia Group since 1992
Signed the Mendoza Accord with Chile and Brazil in 1991, which commits to not use, produce, develop, gain, or transfer directly or indirectly biological or chemical weapons

Tutorial on Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation

Teaching Tool

Tutorial on Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation

NTI Tutorials

Interactive & Visualization

NTI Tutorials

Treaties and Regimes Memberships

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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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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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Mendoza Agreement

The Mendoza Agreement, signed in 1991, was an agreement between Argentina, Brazil, and Chile which never entered into force. The Parties agreed not to develop, produce, acquire, stockpile or retain, transfer, or use chemical or biological weapons.

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