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We (the US) bought most of the stuff they were willing to sell. We then remanufactured it into fuel that could not be (easily) reprocessed back into materials s

We (the US) bought most of the stuff they were willing to sell. We then remanufactured it into fuel that could not be (easily) reprocessed back into materials suitable for nuclear bombs. Russia stopped when they got paranoid about the US purchasing all of the nuclear material and tightened up their handling of the stuff. If Russia decides to start selling nuclear material again, the US will buy it. Again. And will pay far more than any other nation is willing to pay for the stuff.

dividedbyzero 4y ago
> We (the US) bought most of the stuff they were willing to sell. IIRC they were left with a large amount of weapons-grade material and finished pits even after those programs concluded, and it wouldn't come as a big surprise to hear they've restarted production at some point. Even if they were that tight on material, they have around 6000 warheads and each of those has a Pu pit that could be proliferated, and a regional nuclear power wouldn't need that many to be viable. > If Russia decides to start selling nuclear material again, the US will buy it If Russia were to do so, chances are they'd want to prop up a regional nuclear power somewhere for a geopolitical advantage, not primarily cash. The US would certainly not get to make an offer like they used to back in the 90s.
FpUser 4y ago
>"If Russia decides to start selling nuclear material again, the US will buy it. Again. " I do not think Russia will sell it to the US as the whole point of such exercise would be some form of strategic nuclear alliance with other countries. This way they can be protected from being bombed / invaded into "democracy" / "petrodollar" / whatever else.