USA Enters Into Nuclear Deal with India

Toronto Daily News
November 17, 2006

The US Senate has adopted a bill on US-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement to co-operate with India over civilian nuclear technology, reversing a 30-year-old ban. US Congress chose to bypass the requirements of the US Atomic Energy Act, which currently prohibits nuclear sales to countries that didn't sign nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty., such as India.

US weapons experts warned that forging Atomic Energy Act would not only make it harder to enforce rules against nuclear renegades Iran and North Korea, but also set a dangerous precedent for other countries with nuclear ambitions.

Under the bill, India would gain access to U.S. nuclear fuel and reactors. In return, India agreed to place its atomic reactors, except India's eight military plants, under global safeguards as part of the deal. Speaking to the media during his visit to Asia US president Bush immediately praised the passage of the deal saying it would bring India into the 'non-proliferation mainstream'.

Bush and Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, had agreed to the deal in July last year when Singh paid a visit to Washington.