The United States and Argentina held the 19th meeting of their Joint Standing Committee on Nuclear Energy Cooperation in Washington from February 25 to 27. The meeting was chaired by Gonzalo Suarez, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nonproliferation Policy at the U.S. Department of State, and Federico Ramos Napoli, Secretary of Nuclear Affairs at Argentina’s Ministry of Economy.
The U.S. delegation included officials from the Department of State, Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Department of Commerce. Representatives from Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Atomic Energy Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A., and the Argentine Embassy in Washington also participated.
Both sides reaffirmed the value of civil nuclear cooperation for strengthening their strategic, economic, and political ties. They emphasized policies that support safeguards and nonproliferation standards as well as safety and security measures. The delegations highlighted their commitment to international security and nuclear non-proliferation efforts along with best practices for nuclear safety and emergency preparedness.
The United States and Argentina reiterated their support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and recognized its long-term benefits. Both countries stressed the importance of maintaining a strong nuclear non-proliferation regime and effective International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. They also called for improved international cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy under Article IV of the NPT framework. The IAEA’s role in capacity building, technical cooperation, and responsible use of nuclear technology was acknowledged by both parties.
The delegations expressed interest in expanding collaboration on civil nuclear technology at both bilateral and multilateral levels. They noted shared priorities such as deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced technologies to promote economic growth and national development. Both countries reaffirmed their partnership under the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program.
As civil nuclear technology evolves rapidly, both sides underscored the need for close cooperation—including exchanging technical information about reactor regulation, oversight, licensing, physical protection, security measures, and cybersecurity. Continued collaboration on international safeguards and export controls was also pledged.
Officials from both delegations confirmed their intention to quickly finalize negotiations on a new Agreement for Cooperation concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy before the current agreement expires in 2027.
