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U.S., India Finalize Nuclear Technology Sharing Deal
U.S. President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today in New Delhi announced the completion of a nuclear technology sharing agreement between their two countries, Reuters reported (see GSN, March 1). It would also allow India to trade nuclear technology with other countries if the Nuclear Suppliers Group alters its rules to allow trade with New Delhi. “We have concluded an historic agreement today on nuclear power,” Bush said at a joint news conference with Singh. “I am looking forward to working with our United States Congress to change decades of law that will enable us to move forward in this important initiative.” “What this agreement says is things change, times change. ... This agreement is in our interest and therefore I am confident we can sell this to our Congress,” he added (Reuters/Yahoo!News, March 2). A senior U.S. official told the Associated Press that India had to classify 14 of its 22 nuclear reactors as civilian, opening them to International Atomic Energy Agency inspections, in order for the deal to be finalized (Deb Riechmann, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, March 2). India, however, will be allowed to classify its prototype fast-breeder reactor as military and is permitted to develop fast-breeder reactors for the military in the future. It also is guaranteed a permanent nuclear fuel supply, the New York Times reported. Democratic and Republican lawmakers who oppose the deal said inspections at civilian sites are pointless as long access to military reactors is forbidden. Other critics said allowing India to keep secret its fast-breeder reactors — which can efficiently produce plutonium — gives New Delhi the potential to quickly develop more nuclear weapons (Bumiller/Sengupta, New York Times, March 2). The Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation said the deal undermines worldwide efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. In a press statement issued before the finalized agreement was announced, the center points out that India remains outside the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, along with other known or suspected nuclear-weapon states Israel, North Korea and Pakistan. Pakistan and China are in talks over an agreement akin to the U.S.-India deal, the center said. “This one-country exemption from the established nuclear nonproliferation U.S. and international laws could open the door for further exceptions. Such a policy would unravel years of successful U.S. diplomatic efforts to persuade Russia and China to abide by international rules to prevent the spread of nuclear technology to Pakistan and Iran. There is really not sufficient positive outcome in the deal for the United States at this point to justify weakening long-term U.S. security in terms of nuclear non-proliferation,” John Isaacs, president of the Council for a Livable World, said in the release (Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation release, March 1). Meanwhile, Pakistan has asked the United States for an agreement similar to the one Washington made with India, Agence France-Presse reported. “We hope that we will also get the same kind of cooperation,” said Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam. Aslam said that Pakistan needs 8,800 megawatts of electricity generated by nuclear power to sustain its growing economy over the next 15 to 20 years (Agence France-Presse/Khaleej Times, March 2). China said the U.S.-Indian deal must meet global nonproliferation regulations, AFP reported. “Cooperation must conform with the requirements and provisions of the international nonproliferation regime and the obligations undertaken by all countries,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang (Agence France-Presse II/Khaleej Times, March 2).
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