UK Assists in Transporting Highly Enriched Uranium from Venezuela to US

The United Kingdom played a central role in a trilateral nuclear security operation that successfully transported highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Venezuela to the United States. Completed in early May, the mission was led by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation and the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The HEU was removed from Venezuela’s shuttered RV-1 research reactor, the country's only nuclear facility, which was originally built under the Atoms for Peace program. Due to Venezuela's political and economic instability, securing this material became a priority to prevent potential diversion for weapons construction. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provided technical expertise and served as observers during the process. The material arrived at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina for disposition, completing the mission more than two years ahead of schedule. This operation highlights ongoing global efforts to reduce nuclear risks by removing weapons-usable material from civilian stockpiles in unstable regions, contributing to enhanced international nuclear security.