U.S.-India nuclear bond?

Commentary by William Hawkins

Washington - September 21, 2008: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Sept. 11 said she supports waiving House rules to speed passage of the U.S.-India nuclear trade agreement by the end of the year.

"It does have support in the House," she said. The seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, with its focus on national security, was an apt time for the speaker to talk about the pact with India. The agreement has diplomatic implications that extend far beyond even its substantial economic benefits. More >>>

Australia to back US-India nuclear pact with suppliers: Rudd

SINGAPORE (AFP) 12 August 2008 - — Australia will support a civilian atomic energy deal between India and the United States at a meeting of key nuclear supplier states, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said here Tuesday.

Rudd's statement comes ahead of an August 21 meeting in Vienna of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group on the deal, under which the United States will provide energy-starved India with nuclear fuel and technology.

Australia is a key member of the NSG, which must approve the US-India deal in order for it to proceed. The US Congress must also ratify the agreement.

"We have already indicated to the most recent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors that the government of Australia would not stand in the way of such an agreement," Rudd said after giving a lecture. More >>>

U.S. Plans to Work With India to Implement Nuclear Agreement

Feb. 13 (Bloomberg) --

The U.S. says it will work with the Indian government to implement a stalled nuclear energy accord between the two nations, a key element of President George W. Bush's foreign policy.

``This agreement is one that we have done very carefully,'' Dana Perino, White House spokeswoman, said at a press briefing yesterday. ``We are trying to work with India and will continue to work with them to make it happen.'' More >>>

The Right Way to End India's 'Nuclear Apartheid'

Embassy, December 19th, 2007

OP-ED

Canada's exemplary record as a steadfast advocate of global nuclear disarmament faces a moment of truth.

A new deal to re-open global nuclear co-operation with India is nearing completion. Following the landmark framing agreement between the United States and India in July 2005, the world has watched as those two countries slowly fleshed out the details: in exchange for regaining access to global nuclear fuel and technology, India would separate its military and civilian nuclear programs and place the latter under international safeguards through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Canada will soon be called upon to formally support exempting India from Nuclear Suppliers Group restrictions on nuclear trade with countries lacking "full-scope" IAEA safeguards on all their nuclear facilities.

Recently, nationalistic opposition by India's left-wing parties has obstructed its government from completing its part of the deal. But those parties have now allowed the government to commence negotiations with the IAEA on a formal agreement to monitor India's civilian nuclear sector. When that agreement is finalized, the matter will then go to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a non-treaty body operating on consensus to co-ordinate controls over global trade in nuclear materials. If the NSG grants an exemption for India, one last U.S. Congressional vote would finalize the deal–and open the doors to all countries seeking nuclear sales in India. Read More