Brazil, Argentina and
France Join Hands For
Submarine Construction
Brazil, Argentina and
France will work
together to develop
submarines, visiting
Brazilian Defense
Minister Nelson Jobim
said Sunday.
Brazil and Argentina
will set up a joint
company to build the
sub's nuclear reactor
engine and France will
help with non-nuclear
submarine design, Jobim
said.
The plan follows an
agreement Friday between
the presidents of
Argentina and Brazil to
jointly build a nuclear
reactor.
Jobim said the agreement
resulted in talks with
his Argentine
counterpart Nilda Garre
and three military
chiefs.
Argentina currently has
two nuclear power
plants, with a third
under construction.
Brazil has the world's
sixth-largest reserves
of nuclear fuel uranium.
Brazilian President Luiz
Inacio da Silva, known
by his nickname Lula,
last year announced
plans to revive Brazil's
nuclear power industry,
pledging to back these
ideas with 540 million
U.S. dollars.
Brazil had previously
signed a strategic
alliance with France
that included submarine
construction.
Argentine President
Cristina Fernandez and
Lula have agreed to meet
every six months to
review joint projects.
They will next meet in
Brazil's capital
Brasilia.
Jobim traveled to France
in January to explore
buying a Scorpene class
diesel submarine that
could be used as a model
for the sub. |
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