The assault on Argentina's technological development and energy independence has escalated into a crisis of global proportions. While the national government moves forward with the privatization of 44% of Nucleoeléctrica Argentina SA (NASA) and the paralysis of flagship projects such as the CAREM 25 modular reactor, the international scientific community has decided to break its silence with a statement of unprecedented institutional gravity.

More than 2,600 researchers from around the world—led by 24 Nobel laureates and prominent figures from prestigious institutions such as the Royal Society of London—sent an open letter to President Javier Milei and his Chief of Staff, Diego Santilli . In the document, the specialists demanded an immediate halt to the "adjustment and dismantling" of the Argentine science and technology system, warning that the country is heading toward the destruction of strategic capabilities that required decades of public investment.

A global outcry against the "collapse" and brain drain

The document, spearheaded by molecular biologist Alberto Kornblihtt and physicist and national deputy Adriana Serquis , expands upon the warning issued by 68 Nobel laureates back in March 2024. However, the current assessment is considerably more grim.

Among the world-renowned figures who signed the letter are:

"The destruction of a system that took many years to build, from which humanity as a whole benefited, and which would require many more years to rebuild, is looming," the signatories warn in the document.

The figures supporting the claim are alarming: public investment in science has fallen drastically to 0.14% of GDP , with a rate of job destruction that reaches the loss of almost eight specialized jobs per day since the end of 2023.  

The atomic paradox: Auction of assets and adjustment to the CNEA

The international pronouncement is not an isolated event; it takes on special significance when contrasted with the course charted for the nuclear sector. The decision to privatize the operation of the Atucha I, Atucha II, and Embalse nuclear power plants through Decree 695/2024, coupled with the recent Decree 655/2026, which mandates a further reduction of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) , confirms a pattern of systemic dismantling.

The open letter emphasizes the impact on areas where Argentina is a leading global player: satellite technology (CONAE), biotechnology, and, fundamentally, nuclear energy. For the international community, the dismantling of the CNEA—created in 1950 and a pillar of the country's technological development—and the abandonment of projects like CAREM 25 represent a setback not only for the region but also for the global energy transition.

Militarization, layoffs, and the shadow of financial aid

The gravity of the situation is underscored by reports of institutional violence. Scientists expressed their "dismay" and condemnation of episodes of repression, mass dismissals, and raids by security forces on the headquarters of CONICET, INTI, and the CNEA itself , describing these interventions as reminiscent of the darkest periods in the nation's academic history.

This internal depletion occurred simultaneously with geopolitical negotiations with the US administration to obtain financial assistance. The synchronicity between the economic bailout and the handover of surplus assets at fire-sale prices—valued far below their actual development cost—reveals the underlying logic: the exchange of technological autonomy for short-term liquidity.

The warning from the highest levels of world science puts a stark message on the table: by handing over Nucleoeléctrica and defunding its historic organizations, Argentina is not only mortgaging its energy sovereignty, but also destroying the human and scientific capital that positioned it as a regional power. 

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