Global Implications of the U.S.-India Nuclear Deal

1
Global Implications of the U.S.-India Nuclear
Deal

• Sheryll Poe
• U.S.-Global Trade Politics
• October 30, 2008

2
Two Democracies U.S. and India

• In July 2005, President Bush and Prime
  Minister Manmohan Singh issued a joint statement
  announcing their intent to negotiate a civil
  nuclear pact

Photo credit White House
3
The history of Indias nuclear program

• 1950 The United States helped India develop
  nuclear energy under the Atoms for Peace Program
• 1968 India refused to sign the NPT, claiming it
  was biased. (only 3 countries in the world never
  signed NPT -- India, Pakistan, and Israel. North
  Korea signed but withdrew later)
• 1974 India tested its first nuclear bomb made
  with materials from the Canadian reactor in
  Tarapur, which supposed to be used only for
  civilian purpose

4
What are the terms of the deal?

• India agrees to separate its civil and military
  nuclear facilities and place its civil facilities
  under IAEA safeguards
• The use of technology is only for civilian
  purpose -- to create energy. India cannot use the
  technology for military purpose
• India commits to strengthening the security of
  its nuclear arsenals.
• The companies from U.S and NSG countries will be
  allowed to build nuclear reactors in India and
  provide nuclear fuel for its civilian energy
  program

5
What kind of technology would India receive in
return?

• India would be eligible to buy nuclear technology
  from NSG countries including the USA.
• Nuclear reactors and fuel for making power for
  energy hungry India
• India will become the only country that gets
  nuclear technology without signing the NPT

6
Who hated it in India and why?

• The national Communist Party
• The Right wing Bharatiya Janata Party, the
  country's principal opposition party
• A principal Left wing party

Photo credit Gurinder Osan, AP
7
What were the objections in the U.S. and NSG?

• Some American law makers
• Some countries in NSG Austria, New Zealand,
  Ireland and China
• The main objection is proliferation India
  refuses to sign on to NPT

• It is outrageous that such a critical vote,
  one that will forever change the global
  nonproliferation regime, was taken without the
  benefit of full Congressional review and
  oversight, as required by the law. This is a
  terrible bill that threatens the future of the
  global nuclear nonproliferation regime. Rep.
  Edward Markey (D-MA) before the House approval on
  September 27, 2008.

Photo credit Boston Herald
8
So why do it?

• A share of India's plans to spend 150 billion in
  the next decade for nuclear power plants
• A counterweight to China
• A strategic partnership in a dangerous part of
  the world
• Partner in the war against terrorism
• In recognition of Indias good record on
  proliferation

• This agreement sends a signal to the world
  Nations that follow the path of democracy and
  responsible behavior will find a friend in the
  United States of America. President Bush at
  the October 8, 2008 signing of the U.S.-India
  Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation
  Enhancement Act

Photo credit White House
9
Where the candidates stand

• I voted for the U.S.-India nuclear
  agreement because India is a strong democracy and
  a natural strategic partner for the U.S. in the
  21st century. Barrack Obama to Reuters, July
  11, 2008

• India has been a responsible democracy and
  this agreement allows it to become further
  integrated into the global effort to control
  proliferation of dangerous technologies. John
  McCain campaign statement, October 2, 2008

Photo credit candidate sites
10
Outstanding Issues

• Nuclear rivalries with Pakistan, China, Iran
• Other NSG countries France, Russia -- will sell
  to India and shut out the U.S.
• Undermines the NPT and shows the rules can be
  bent for sales to other non-signatories
• New Delhi has not ratified an international
  nuclear accident liability convention known as
  the CSC.

11
What can the U.S. do?

• Work with other NSG members on becoming joint
  suppliers France, Russia, even China
• Work with the UN to keep an eye on Pakistan, Iran
• Create a new NPT treaty that more accurately
  reflects the realities of today
• Provide technical assistance to help India become
  a good nuclear partner
• Create a nuclear FTA with other countries
• Create a US watchdog group involving agencies,
  Congress and non-proliferation experts

12
Final Thought

• What message does that send to others who want
  to join the nuclear club?
• -- Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.

13
Sources

• Adams, Jonathan. International community split
  over U.S.-India nuclear deal. The Christian
  Science Monitor. August 21, 2008.
  http//www.csmonitor.com/2008/0820/p99s01-duts.htm
  l
• Bajoria, Jayshree Pan, Esther. The U.S.-India
  Nuclear Deal. The Washington Post. September 4,
  2008.
• http//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
  le/2008/09/04/AR2008090401614.html
• Denyer, Simon. Factbox U.S.-India Nuclear Deal
  Business Potential. Reuters. October 2, 2008.
  http//www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAn
  dRetailNews/idUSSP5726420081002
• India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Responding to
  Critics. The White House Office of the Press
  Secretary. March 2006. http//www.whitehouse.gov/n
  ews/releases/2006/03/20060308-3.html
• Kronstadt, K. Alan. India U.S. Relations.
  Congressional Research Service. Updated August
  12, 2008.
• http//assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33529_20080812.pd
  f
• Kushner, Adam B. How Indias New Nuke Deal Might
  Set Off an Arms Race. Newsweek. October 20,
  2008. http//www.newsweek.com/id/163590
• More Than Just the 123 Agreement The Future of
  U.S.-Indo Relations. Congressional hearing of
  the House Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the
  Middle East and South Asia. June 25, 2008.
  http//foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp
  ?id1013
• Page, Jeremy. India parliament launches nuclear
  debate in vote that could break Government. The
  India Times. July 22, 2008. http//www.timesonline
  .co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4372268.ece
• Perkovich, George. Faulty Promises The
  U.S.-India Nuclear Deal. Policy Outlook, No. 21.
  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
  September 2005. http//www.carnegieendowment.org/p
  ublications/index.cfm?faviewid17419
• Tomero, Leonor. Why the U.S. India Nuclear Deal
  is a Bad Deal. Center for Arms Control and
  Non-Proliferation. August 2008.
  http//armscontrolcenter.org/policy/nonproliferati
  on/articles/bad_us_india_deal/
• US business hails 150 bn'opportunity' in
  N-deal. The Economic Times. October 2, 2008.
  http//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35
  52004.cms