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Southern Africa

South Africa

South African Nuclear History

Aerial view of National Mall

North America

United States

Photograph of the Port of Jaffa in Israel.

Middle East

Israel

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Southern Africa

Namibia

Soviet soldier taking a photograph of another soldier in Red Square, Moscow, 1959

Eastern Europe

Soviet Union

Aerial photograph of CIA headquarters

United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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Central Africa

Angola

George H.W. Bush and Lech Walesa

CIA Reports on the Collapse of Communism in Europe

Photograph of P.W. Botha

Botha, P. W. (Pieter Willem)

1916- 2006

Nuclear Proliferation

Photograph from the 1995 NPT Review Conference

The 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference

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Vorster, B. J. (Balthazar Johannes)

1915- 1983

Mikhail Gorbachev, 1986

Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeevich

1931- 2022

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Botha, R. F. (Roelof Frederik) ("Pik")

1932-

Margaret Thatcher in 1984

Thatcher, Margaret

1925- 2013

Israeli Nuclear History

Pakistani Nuclear History

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March 20, 1981	Report, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'South African-United States' Nuclear Relations' Background on US-South African nuclear relations and uranium cooperation from the end of the Second World War to the early 1980s. Also addressed is the Vela incident of September 1979 and the international community’s backlash against the South African government.
March 1981	South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'Directive for Discussions of Nuclear Matters with United States Authorities' A memorandum in advance of a meeting between U.S. and South African policymakers which outlines South Africa’s intention to adhere to the principles and spirit of the NPT, and concerns about the supply of fuel for the Koeberg and SAFARI-1 reactors
August 31, 1977	Cable from South African Embassy in the US to the South African Secretary for Foreign Affairs on South Africa and the Bomb Telegram from the South African embassy in Washington to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Pretoria in response to a Washington Post article which alleged that South African had developed an untested nuclear weapon and became "the seventh nuclear power even though it will not be recognized as such." The conclusion drawn is that the article will lead to a watershed moment in South Africa’s international relations.
August 26, 1977	Cable, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'South Africa: Nuclear Bomb Charges' South African department of Foreign Affairs cable to its embassies addressing the Soviet charge that South Africa is on the precipice of developing a nuclear bomb. The message states that South Africa has no intentions of developing a weapon, that the Kalahari facility is not being used to test explosives, and that “there will not be any nuclear explosive testing of any kind in South Africa.” Attached is a copy of the Prime Ministers’ 24 August 1977 speech in Cape Town.
August 19, 1977	Letter, US Secretary of State Vance to South African Foreign Minister Botha US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance explains the evidence which lead the US to suspect that South Africa was developing nuclear weapons and developing a testing site in the Kalahari Desert.
August 18, 1977	South African Ambassador to France, 'Unofficial Translation of French Aide-Memoire' Statement from the French embassy in South Africa reaffirming their position that South Africa not pursue a nuclear weapon. Specifically, France sought a clear statement from the South African government that they not "endow [themselves] with means of proceeding with nuclear explosions” or risk continued French-South African cooperation in several areas.
August 18, 1977	Letter, US Ambassador Bowlder to South African Foreign Minister Botha Message from U.S. Ambassador Bowdler to the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Botha in which President Carter’s warning that the detonation of a South African nuclear device would have “most serious consequences” for U.S.-South African relations was conveyed.
June 2, 1976	Reply, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'Sale of Two Nuclear Plants to South Africa' French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Sauvagnargues, responds to an inquiry from the National Assembly regarding France's sale of two pressurized-water reactors to South Africa.
June 30, 1975	Meeting Minutes Regarding ISSA (Israel-South Africa Agreement) Minutes from the third ISSA meeting between representatives of the Israeli and South African governments, including Minsters Botha and Peres. Missile delivery systems and other military equipment are discussed.
March 1975	Memorandum, Lt-General Raymond Fullarton Armstrong, US Department of Defense, Israel-South Africa A memorandum written by Chief of the Defense Staff Lt-General Raymond Fullarton Armstrong describes South Africa's nuclear weapons systems needs and outlines the rationale for having a nuclear deterrent.