ALWAGHT- The US has announced the successful removal of highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Venezuela, a move the Department of Energy (DOE) hailed as a win for the United States and "the world."
The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Friday that it has completed the removal of all remaining enriched uranium from a legacy research reactor in Venezuela, transferring 13.5 kg (30 pounds) of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to the US for processing and reuse. The DOE hailed the operation as a victory for America and "the world," crediting President Donald Trump's "decisive leadership." The removal was coordinated with Venezuela's Ministry of Science and Technology, following the reboot of US-Venezuela relations after Washington detained President Nicolas Maduro in January on narcoterrorism allegations. The uranium originated from a Cold War-era civilian reactor established under the "Atoms for Peace" program.
Despite the dramatic language, the material had not been publicly linked to any imminent proliferation threat. US nonproliferation officials argue that any civilian HEU stockpile poses a long-term risk of theft or trafficking and should be removed from circulation. The Venezuela transfer resembles dozens of similar HEU-removal operations carried out over the past three decades under routine nonproliferation programs. Even at the height of US hostility toward Maduro, Washington's accusations focused on drug trafficking and corruption, not on any Venezuelan nuclear threat to the American homeland.
