Argentina, Brazil may jointly develop nuclear submarine: Report

Buenos Aires: Brazil and Argentina may have arrived at an understanding to jointly develop a nuclear submarine, according to Argentine media reports. The reports said that the project could lay the groundwork for a regional defence industry.

According to reports, Brazilian defence minister Nelson Jobim and his Argentine counterpart, Nilda Garre, discussed plans last week to form a joint company to construct the submarine. The Brazilian defence minister was on a visit to Argentina, where he called on his counterpart.

Prior to his departure, Jobim said that the two countries could convene a South American Defence Council meet in Brazil in October.

Jobim also said that South American militaries are fundamentally "deterrent" rather than "expansionist."

"But that deterrence power can only be exercised if there is behind it a regional military industry that makes us independent of foreign supplies," he was quoted as saying.

No comments, either from the Argentine or Brazilian defence ministries, were available. 

Latin America's first nuclear submarine project could combine Argentine experience in creating a compact reactor that could power the vessel with Brazilian access to other necessary technologies, including nuclear fuel, the reports said.

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had announced $540 million in new funding for Brazil's nuclear submarine and uranium enrichment programmes last year.

Defence minister Jobim had also travelled to France this January to explore buying a Scorpene class diesel submarine that could be used as a model for the sub.

Braziloian president Silva and Argentine president, Cristina Fernandez, agreed in a meeting last week to cooperate in enriching uranium for nuclear power and also to consider building a shared reactor.