U.S.-India Relations To Grow Closer On Back Of Landmark Nuclear Accord

President George W. Bush with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the latter’s visit, November 2005. The historic deal to engage in civil nuclear cooperation was approved on July 18, 2005 by President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The two leaders met again in New Delhi, on March 2, 2006, and announced the completion of the deal. Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S. will provide India with nuclear fuel and technologies for continuing Indian nuclear development already in place. Additionally, the U.S. will work to adjust American and international laws regarding civil nuclear trade and cooperation to allow India more access to the world nuclear market. Primarily, this would involve the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), and so the NSG must also consent to the deal. In return, India has agreed to separate its civilian and military nuclear programs, and allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the former. The agreement will place 14 out of a total of 22 Indian nuclear facilities under international scrutiny. India will also continue the unilateral test ban it has followed since 1999 and establish additional safeguards to prevent proliferation. India first entered the nuclear scene in the 1950s under the Eisenhower Administration’s “Atoms for Peace” program. On May 18, 1974 India conducted its first nuclear test, using enriched plutonium it had developed with technology acquired through the U.S. government’s “Atoms for Peace” program. New Delhi insisted that this was a “peaceful nuclear explosion.” Although there were warnings throughout the 1980s, it was not until 1998 that the international community was shocked into awareness of India’s aspirations for nuclear weapons. “Operation Shakti” began on May 11, 1998 when scientists tested five nuclear bombs over a three-day period. On May 27, 1998 then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee stood before his Parliament and announced, “India is now a nuclear weapons state.” Source: http://www.jinsa.org/articles/view.html?documentid=3536

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