News & Views item - April 2006

 

 

US Congress Balks at India - US Nuclear Deal. (April 21, 2006)

    Last month on a short visit to India by US President George W. Bush he and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh issued a joint statement whereby India would open most of its nuclear facilities for international inspections, and in return, it will be able to buy nuclear power plants and fuel from the United States and other members of the suppliers' club.

 

Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard following the Bush-Singh announcement, suggested that his government would be prepared to consider the possibility of selling uranium to India.

 

For the US - India pact to be finalised it requires congressional approval but skepticism has been raised concerning the deal's nonproliferation merits and therefore the Bush administration a fortnight ago sent India a draft agreement that includes a clause declaring an end of cooperation if India were to detonate a nuclear device.

 

Science now reports, "Although India has adhered to a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear tests since its last round of detonations in 1998, the government deemed the clause a poison pill. 'There was no place for any such provision' in an agreement, says a spokesperson for India's Foreign Office. Negotiations are ongoing, with a team of senior U.S. officials expected in Delhi some time next week to continue talks."

 

So far the Australian Government hasn't commented on the disagreement between India and the United States.