“A verification cotton” between crystals: the Discussions about Regional Nuclear Verification Mechanisms in South America and the Creation of the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) (1967-1992)

Abstract The Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) was established in 1991. It marked the culmination of a rapprochement process that began in the 1980s, as two former adversaries transitioned into cooperative partners. This article explores the rapprochement process between Brazil and Argentina in the nuclear field, leading to the creation of ABACC. It examines two key periods: the adversarial relations between 1967-1982, when most verification proposals originated from extra-regional actors or epistemic communities, and the 1982-1992 rapprochement era, when discussions on verification gained traction domestically in both countries, particularly after their return to democracy. This article classifies these proposals into three models: (1) ad hoc inspections, (2) regional verification, and (3) bilateral verification.