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.
Source: Xinhua
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