India getting nuclear go-ahead

The Brookings Institution held a panel discussion on the U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement. Former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said the agreement is a victory for the strategic partnership pursued by Presidents Clinton and Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Burns noted Singh’s survival of a confidence vote in the Indian Parliament last week brought forth by opponents of strengthened Indian relations with the United States.

Burns, who voiced his support for the agreement, said the deal pulls India out of 35 years of nuclear isolation. He emphasized that the agreement gives India, soon-to-be largest most populous country, increased access to nuclear fuel and technology and does not recognize India as a nuclear power. Burns also said the agreement promotes non-proliferation, saying counties like Iran that try to cheat the international community will see the benefits of adhering to international agreements.

Strobe Talbott, president of the Brookings Institution, said he is not entirely supportive of the nuclear deal between the world’s two largest democracies. He said the agreement creates a moral hazard that has the potential of causing other states to question their non-proliferation. He reminded the panel that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty made exceptions for five countries with nuclear weapons prior to 1970. He suggested an acceptance of India’s nuclear status unravels the NPT since India became nuclear in 1975. He also noted that the NPT’s intention was to prevent additional states from gaining arms and to bring forth an eventual abolition of nuclear weapons.