US, Brazil sign space technology safeguard agreement

The US has signed an agreement with Brazil to protect its technology associated with US participation in space launches in the South American country.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the State Department, US Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Christopher Ford and Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo on Monday signed the Technology Safeguards Agreement between the two governments, Xinhua reported.

The agreement is about "technology safeguards associated with US participation in space launches from Brazil," the statement read.

It added that "upon entry into force, the Agreement will establish the technical safeguards to support US space launches from Brazil while ensuring the proper handling of sensitive US technology consistent with US nonproliferation policy, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and US export control laws and regulations."

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is scheduled to visit the White House and meet his US counterpart Donald Trump on Tuesday, during which the two leaders will discuss opportunities for defence cooperation, pro-growth trade policies, combating transnational crime, and situation in Venezuela, the White House said on March 8.

Bolsonaro visited the US Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in the state of Virginia on Monday as part of his first official trip to Washington.

--IANS

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