Rethinking nuclear verification through the Global South: Latin American approaches

Abstract In an era of heightened geopolitical rivalries among major nuclear powers, verification regimes for nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, and disarmament face increasing strain. This paper argues that integrating Global South perspectives is essential for creating more effective and inclusive verification mechanisms. Using a postcolonial lens, it highlights how Southern actors have contributed innovative practices that challenge systemic inequities in nuclear governance and propose alternative security models. Focusing on Latin America, the paper examines two key cases. First, the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) illustrates how regional cooperation and technical collaboration can foster trust and ensure robust safeguards transcending historical tensions. As a bilateral initiative, ABACC exemplifies the potential of autonomous, Global South–driven verification frameworks to reshape traditional North-dominated approaches. Second, the Treaty of Tlatelolco and its implementing body, OPANAL, established the world’s first nuclear-weapon-free zone in a populated region. This pioneering regional effort underscored the Global South’s commitment to multilateralism and collective verification tailored to local contexts. These case studies demonstrate how Latin American experiences offer valuable lessons for strengthening verification regimes globally. The region’s emphasis on shared accountability, institutional innovation, and regional ownership provides a model for adapting verification frameworks to today’s multipolar world. Ultimately, this qualitative study underscores the importance of moving beyond traditional, Northern-centric approaches to nuclear verification. By foregrounding the practices and agency of Latin American actors, it advocates for a more equitable and resilient global verification regime that promotes trust, cooperation, and decolonial approaches to nuclear governance.