Indo-US Nuclear Pact: Much Ado About Nothing
With President Bush scheduled to visit India in early March, a lot of expectations and big announcements are being hinged on this historic visit. President Bush largery ignored India in his first term and the Indo-US relationship was based more on the Indo-Pak relations. Things have changed now and now lawmakers on both sides have realised the importance in engaging the world's two largest democracies in a more realistic and comprehensive relationship. The realisation has been more on the US side in realising the India will be the new power of the 21st Century. Strategically also the US realises the importance of having a friend in this region with China's menacing rise and the war on terror. The outcome has been that the US political establishment and the business community have encouraged the growing relationship between the two countries. The UPA govenment has also allayed any fears from the US on the influence of the Left in its foreign policy. President Bush enjoys a good relationship with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and has on record called him a “good man”. All this has heightened expectations on the outcome of the Bush visit.
Last night, while addressing the Asia Society, Bush sang peans of India and also the growing warmth between the two countries. He even sided with India on the contentious issue of outsourcing and gave the logic of outsourcing actually helping in creating more jobs in the US. He was also quick to tell the Indian Governement to increase the amount of FDI caps for foreign firms in India. The Left might raise the issue as another infringement by the big brother in India's dosmetic policy making. However, Bush was addressing a business constituency that he heavily relies upon for his political support. He said that investing in India will help in making the great Indian middle class more prosperous while making the bottomlines of big American corporates look fabulous.
The issue that has been of much debate and contention has been that of the nuclear deal. The US wants India to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities, and bring the civilian nuclear facilities under the purview under IAEA rules and regulations. The issue has divided political parties, Nuclear scientists and the military top brass on how to go ahead with this deal. The deal is no doubt stuck in the details. India with its growing energy needs wants to bank on nuclear enery to fuel its needs. India has 3% of its energy needs coming from nuclear fuel, it plans to increase that to 25% by 2050. In order to do that, India needs nuclear fuel and new nuclear technology to meet that goal.So this new nuclear deal will help India achieve some these goals. However, with India's pride and more importantly strategic nuclear deterrant at stake, the matter has differing opinions from any person you ask to comment on it. One feels that the nuclear deal should in no way hinder India's minimum nuclear deterrance which is a must for India, considering its nuclear neighbours. In terms of civilian nuclear energy needs India should put the reactors in the purview of the IAEA to safeguard future interests. The world community is looking at India to some concessions in its civilian nuclear energy plants, this is not unusual considering the growing menace of nuclear energy becoming the cause of crisis talks between Iran and the West and even in the case of North Korea. Although, India has a brilliant record in safeguarding nuclear technology and has never been exporter of technology to any other country, in terms of making its nuclear prowess acceptable to the West, some concessions are required.
Lastly, I would argue that while the nuclear pact is very important in testing the waters on how deep the India-US relationship really is, it would be myopic to measure all success between the two countries solely on the basis of one pact. There are greener pastures that show great potential between the two countries and both sides must realise those areas of synergies. We should also refrain from fast tracking the nuclear deal just so that India has a good photo-op when Bush comes calling. Let us take some time and patience on issue and try to get as much as we can in the deal. Importantly, let us not put all our eggs on the nuclear basket.
With President Bush scheduled to visit India in early March, a lot of expectations and big announcements are being hinged on this historic visit. President Bush largery ignored India in his first term and the Indo-US relationship was based more on the Indo-Pak relations. Things have changed now and now lawmakers on both sides have realised the importance in engaging the world's two largest democracies in a more realistic and comprehensive relationship. The realisation has been more on the US side in realising the India will be the new power of the 21st Century. Strategically also the US realises the importance of having a friend in this region with China's menacing rise and the war on terror. The outcome has been that the US political establishment and the business community have encouraged the growing relationship between the two countries. The UPA govenment has also allayed any fears from the US on the influence of the Left in its foreign policy. President Bush enjoys a good relationship with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and has on record called him a “good man”. All this has heightened expectations on the outcome of the Bush visit.
Last night, while addressing the Asia Society, Bush sang peans of India and also the growing warmth between the two countries. He even sided with India on the contentious issue of outsourcing and gave the logic of outsourcing actually helping in creating more jobs in the US. He was also quick to tell the Indian Governement to increase the amount of FDI caps for foreign firms in India. The Left might raise the issue as another infringement by the big brother in India's dosmetic policy making. However, Bush was addressing a business constituency that he heavily relies upon for his political support. He said that investing in India will help in making the great Indian middle class more prosperous while making the bottomlines of big American corporates look fabulous.
The issue that has been of much debate and contention has been that of the nuclear deal. The US wants India to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities, and bring the civilian nuclear facilities under the purview under IAEA rules and regulations. The issue has divided political parties, Nuclear scientists and the military top brass on how to go ahead with this deal. The deal is no doubt stuck in the details. India with its growing energy needs wants to bank on nuclear enery to fuel its needs. India has 3% of its energy needs coming from nuclear fuel, it plans to increase that to 25% by 2050. In order to do that, India needs nuclear fuel and new nuclear technology to meet that goal.So this new nuclear deal will help India achieve some these goals. However, with India's pride and more importantly strategic nuclear deterrant at stake, the matter has differing opinions from any person you ask to comment on it. One feels that the nuclear deal should in no way hinder India's minimum nuclear deterrance which is a must for India, considering its nuclear neighbours. In terms of civilian nuclear energy needs India should put the reactors in the purview of the IAEA to safeguard future interests. The world community is looking at India to some concessions in its civilian nuclear energy plants, this is not unusual considering the growing menace of nuclear energy becoming the cause of crisis talks between Iran and the West and even in the case of North Korea. Although, India has a brilliant record in safeguarding nuclear technology and has never been exporter of technology to any other country, in terms of making its nuclear prowess acceptable to the West, some concessions are required.
Lastly, I would argue that while the nuclear pact is very important in testing the waters on how deep the India-US relationship really is, it would be myopic to measure all success between the two countries solely on the basis of one pact. There are greener pastures that show great potential between the two countries and both sides must realise those areas of synergies. We should also refrain from fast tracking the nuclear deal just so that India has a good photo-op when Bush comes calling. Let us take some time and patience on issue and try to get as much as we can in the deal. Importantly, let us not put all our eggs on the nuclear basket.
posted by Karan Thakur @ 12:42 AM
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