Brazil and Russia Sign Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Covering Medical Radioisotopes and Fuel Cycle Through 2028

Brazil and Russia signed a joint declaration on February 10, 2026, establishing an expanded framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation during the eighth meeting of the Brazil-Russia High-Level Cooperation Commission, co-chaired by Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília. The agreement prioritizes collaboration on medical radioisotopes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, nuclear fuel cycle development, and electric power generation projects, according to official documentation released by Brazilian government sources.

The declaration registers mutual interest in expanding the radioisotope agenda to meet demands from both public and private healthcare systems, though specific volumes, operational timelines, and priority radiopharmaceuticals for initial implementation remain undefined. Article 18 of the joint declaration addresses cooperation on nuclear fuel cycle stages, encompassing industrial and technological processes associated with reactor operations, while provisions for power generation projects appear without identification of specific institutions, financing mechanisms, or implementation schedules.

Beyond traditional nuclear energy, Article 16 references the creation and development of scientific facilities classified as “MegaScience,” designating large-scale research infrastructure with high technological impact. The cooperation framework extends to quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, digitalization, astrophysics, biotechnology, polar research, and climate change studies, broadening the bilateral agenda beyond nuclear energy applications.

The agreement emerged from the Brazil-Russia Business Forum held February 5, 2026, where both countries affirmed their partnership within the BRICS framework. Bilateral trade flows reached $11 billion in 2025, with Brazil recording higher imports than exports. Russian officials noted that Brazil accounts for more than half of Russian product sales to Latin America, with Russia ranking among Brazil’s top five import partners.

The joint declaration criticizes unilateral coercive measures against developing nations, describing such actions as inconsistent with international law and the United Nations Charter, though without naming specific countries. Both governments emphasized multilateralism and committed to updating the legal foundation supporting bilateral cooperation. The document specifically confirms intentions to deepen peaceful nuclear cooperation over coming years, reinforcing compliance with international non-proliferation commitments. The declaration coincided with the February 5 expiration of the New START treaty limiting nuclear weapons between the United States and Russia.