US Removes Highly Enriched Uranium from Venezuela in Breakthrough Operation

In a joint operation involving the US, the UK, and Venezuela, a significant quantity of highly enriched uranium has been safely removed from a legacy research reactor in Venezuela. The US Department of Energy announced the successful operation, citing 'thanks to President Trump's decisive leadership.' The uranium, weighing approximately 13.5kg (30 pounds), was transported from a site 15km from Venezuela's capital, Caracas, and taken to a Department of Energy complex in South Carolina.

The International Atomic Energy Agency praised the complex and sensitive operation, which saw the uranium safely and securely transported by land and sea from South to North America. The US Department of Energy has hailed the operation as a 'win for America, Venezuela, and the world,' and a signal of a restored and renewed Venezuela. The development marks a significant breakthrough in international nuclear security, with the US Department of Energy citing the operation as a key step in promoting global safety and security.

The operation follows a series of high-profile efforts by the US to remove highly enriched uranium from other countries, including Iran. While those efforts have so far failed, the successful removal of uranium from Venezuela marks a significant victory for the US and its international partners. The development is set to have significant implications for the future of international nuclear security, with the US Department of Energy continuing to work closely with its international partners to promote global safety and security.

The operation has also marked a significant shift in US-Venezuela relations, with the White House rebooting relations with its longtime adversaries in Caracas. The US has recognized Venezuela's vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, and set about opening the country to US energy and mining firms. Business chiefs have welcomed the start of a new era of commercial relations between the US and Venezuela, while pro-democracy activists have expressed concerns over the US decision to sideline the exiled opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado.