Nuclear Exporters Delay Review of U.S.-Indian Deal

The Nuclear Suppliers Group yesterday refused to schedule consideration of the proposed U.S.-Indian nuclear deal at an upcoming meeting despite lobbying by the United States, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, March 23).

Diplomats meeting in Vienna said the nuclear materials export control group decided not to place the issue on the agenda for its May plenary session in Rio de Janeiro.

The group will consider the matter at a meeting before the session but “it is unlikely to get on the agenda,” a diplomat said.

Group members including Sweden, Norway, Ireland and Australia were worried that the deal could hurt international nonproliferation efforts, diplomats said.

The United States was “not seeking a decision” from the meeting in Vienna but was working to “explain our vision of civil nuclear cooperation with India, to answer questions that other delegations had about our vision,” said acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Stephen Rademaker in Vienna.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher said talks at the meeting have been “very balanced.”

“Those who raised a lot of questions also recognized the nonproliferation benefits of bringing India closer to the system and some of the steps that India was taking,” he said.

However, Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said the suppliers group’s decision to put off the matter is a blow to the United States.

“A change in the NSG rules is now highly unlikely for many more months to come,” he said.

A U.S. official said Washington would follow NSG rules. “We abide by our international obligations. We have obligations to the NSG,” the official said (Agence France-Presse/ChannelNewsAsia.com, March 23).

Meanwhile, Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Jehangir Karamat said nuclear technology agreements should not favor one country. He said the U.S.-Indian deal was “leaning so heavily on one side.”

Karamat said in a prepared statement that Pakistan should receive a similar deal to keep the balance of power in the region. 

“Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said our security policy is no longer India-centric. He has also emphasized minimum deterrence as a pillar of our policy, and has said that we do not want an arms race with India,” he said (The Electricity Daily, March 24).

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