Moscow has agreed to build Venezuela's first ever nuclear reactor, it has emerged.
The deal, which will deepen a growing partnership between the two countries, was announced in Russia's Vedomosti newspaper
President Dmitry Medvedev is expected to sign a nuclear cooperation agreement with his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chávez, during a visit to Latin America next week.
The reactor will be named after Humberto Fernandez Moran, a late Venezuelan research scientist and former science minister, Mr Chávez has announced.
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The prospect of a nuclear deal between Russia and Venezuela will alarm the US and present an early challenge to the Obama administration.
"Hugo Chávez joins the nuclear club," Vedomosti announced.
Venezuela's socialist leader said the reactor may be based in the eastern state of Zulia and said the project would be used to generate energy, not build weapons.
