THE
INDO – US NUCLEAR AGREEMENT: TOWARDS BETTER BILATERAL
RELATIONS
By
Dr. Lopamudra Bandyopadhyay
After
the first Pokhran test of 1974, India was subjected to an
embargo on its civilian nuclear energy power generation programme.
This embargo, which became more severe over the years, was
initially sought to be enforced by the two countries with
whom India had ongoing collaboration in commercial nuclear
power generation – the U.S. and Canada.
As a non-signatory
of the NPT, this embargo, with some case-by-case exceptions,
was also applied by the NSG, the nuclear suppliers group of
44 countries that engage in nuclear trade and commerce. The
U.S. had supplied on a turnkey basis India’s first power
reactor at Tarapur, a GE design light-water boiling-water
reactor using slightly enriched uranium, and had signed an
agreement to provide enriched uranium fuel for 30 years. After
Pokhran I the U.S. essentially abrogated the agreement although
it made one or two additional fuel shipments. France, Russia,
and now China that have enrichment facilities, supplied fuel
subsequently from time to time to keep the reactor in operation,
though for many years it has operated at a fraction of its
rated power level. India, however, earlier had an agreement
with Canada to provide the technology for the CANDU reactors
which use natural (non-enriched) uranium as fuel but heavy
water (deuterium) as a moderator and a plant at Kota in Rajasthan
was nearing completion of construction when Pokharan I occurred.
Canada immediately terminated all cooperation and the Indian
nuclear establishment was forced to develop and implement
the technology indigenously at considerable cost and with
many delays. With the exception of the first Tarapur plant
and the two Russian-supplied VVER reactors under construction
at Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu, all 15 operating power reactors
in India are based on the CANDU design using indigenous natural
uranium and heavy water produced in India (for which technology
was procured initially from the Swiss company, Sulzer). The
1998 nuclear tests carried out by India resulted in further
sanctions being imposed on her.
At present,
India has limited resources of natural uranium but these are
running out and it is acknowledged that they will be insufficient
to support even the current programme not to speak of an expanded
programme as envisaged by the Department of Atomic Energy.
It is in this respect that the Indo – US Civilian Nuclear
Agreement which would allow India to freely import both fuel
and, perhaps, more efficient technology is important.
The Indo – US Nuclear Deal
New Delhi
and Washington had agreed to collaborate in July 2005, when
President George Bush vowed to end India’s total exclusion
from the international nuclear market. Bush conditioned this
promise on New Delhi’s separating its nuclear facilities
into military and civilian sectors and accepting International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards on the latter group.
IAEA safeguards were supposed to ensure the recipients do
not use civil trade for nuclear weapons activities.
In March 2006, Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh endorsed
a separation plan that by 2014 would subject to safeguards
14 of 22 Indian thermal reactors that are either operating
or are under construction. The Bush administration then asked
for and won legislation from Congress exempting India from
a U.S. law prohibiting trade with non-nuclear-weapon states
that do not accept the provisions of the 1968 signed Non Proliferation
Treaty.
Commencement
of U.S. nuclear exports to India, however, requires completion
of several other actions. The two sides must finish negotiations
on a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement, known as the
123 agreement, as per the relevant section of the U.S. Atomic
Energy Act of 1954. India must also conclude a safeguards
agreement with the IAEA, and the 45 – member Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG) must reach consensus to permit nuclear
commerce with India. Finally, U.S. lawmakers would need to
approve the 123 agreement.
A preliminary
reading of the agreement - 22 pages and 17 Articles long -
suggests a serious effort was made by both India and the U.S.
to square a very difficult circle. Both sides made and received
concessions and the consensus within Government of India —
including the Department of Atomic Energy — is that
this is a deal the country can live with provided it does
not become the template for the Nuclear Suppliers Group when
it considers changing its guidelines to allow nuclear commerce
with India. In particular, Indian officials hope the NSG will
not prohibit the sale of fuel cycle technology and components,
or adopt a rule terminating cooperation in the event of an
Indian nuclear test. While those are issues of the future,
it is important to understand the extent to which the 123
agreement has addressed India’s concerns.
The Indo-US,
123 agreement on civil nuclear cooperation says that India
and the US will engage in full civil nuclear cooperation activities
covering nuclear reactors and aspects of the associated nuclear
fuel cycle. It also includes technology transfer on an industrial
or commercial scale between the governments or authorised
persons. The agreement will be implemented in a manner that
does not hinder nor interfere with India's nuclear programme
for military purposes. The text of the agreement was released
simultaneously in New Delhi and in Washington. It says Washington
will support an Indian effort to develop a strategic reserve
of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply
over the lifetime of India's reactors.
The 22-page
agreement provides for termination of the nuclear cooperation
with one-year notice period but prior to that the two sides
will hold consultations on the circumstances, including changed
security environment that may lead to the cessation. The US
is committed to engage with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
to help India to obtain full access to the international fuel
market, including reliable, uninterrupted and continual access
to fuel supplies from firms in several nations. The US will
have the right to seek return of nuclear fuel and technology
but it will compensate India promptly for the "fair market
value thereof" and the costs incurred as a consequence
of such removal.
The US
will join India in seeking to negotiate with the International
Atomic Energy Agency an India-specific fuel supply agreement.
The US will support an Indian effort to develop a strategic
reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of
supply over the lifetime of India's reactors. The civil nuclear
deal will remain in force for a 40-year period and can be
extended by an additional 10 years. India is to establish
a new national facility dedicated to reprocessing safeguarded
nuclear material under IAEA safeguards. In case of disruption
of fuel supplies, the US and India would jointly convene a
group of friendly nations such as Russia, France and the United
Kingdom to pursue measures to restore fuel supply. The agreement
allows enrichment of 20 per cent of isotope 235 of uranium
transferred under the pact. India agrees that the nuclear
material and equipment transferred to it by the US would be
subject to safeguards in perpetuity.
Thus, the following are the key aspects of the Indo-US civil
nuclear deal:
• The agreement will not hinder nor
interfere with India's nuclear programme for military purposes.
• The US will help India negotiate
with the IAEA for an India-specific fuel supply agreement.
• Washington will support New Delhi
develop strategic reserves of nuclear fuel to guard against
future disruption of supply.
• In case of disruption, the US and
India will jointly convene a group of friendly supplier countries
to include nations like Russia, France and the UK to pursue
such measures to restore fuel supply.
• Both the countries agree to facilitate
nuclear trade between themselves in the interest of respective
industries and consumers.
• India and the US agree to transfer
nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment and components.
• Any special fissionable material
transferred under the agreement shall be low enriched uranium.
• Low enriched uranium can be transferred
for use as fuel in reactor experiments and in reactors for
conversion or fabrication.
• The ambit of the deal includes research,
development, design, construction, operation, maintenance
and use of nuclear reactors, reactor experiments and decommissioning.
• The US will have the right to seek
return of nuclear fuel and technology but it will compensate
for the costs incurred as a consequence of such removal.
• The 123 agreement provides for consultations
before termination.
• The Indo-US civil nuclear deal provides
for a consultative mechanism if termination of the pact is
warranted due to any reason, including "changed security
environment", apparently a fallback arrangement if New
Delhi were to conduct an atomic test.
• The 123 agreement is silent on nuclear
testing by India but makes it clear that the pact will not
hinder nor hamper New Delhi's military nuclear programme.
• The 40-year agreement, extendable
by 10 years, commits the US to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies
to Indian reactors even if it terminates its cooperation and
to help create strategic fuel reserve for Indian safeguarded
nuclear reactors.
• It makes it incumbent upon the US
to work with other Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to ensure
that India can have nuclear cooperation with the international
community.
• "Either party (country) shall
have the right to terminate this agreement prior to its expiration
on one year's written notice to the other party," says
the 22-page text of the pact.
• "A party giving notice of termination
shall provide the reasons for seeking such termination,"
it says, adding the termination can be cancelled if the notice
is withdrawn before the end of one-year notice period.
• Before the agreement is terminated,
the two countries "shall consider the relevant circumstances
and promptly hold consultations" to "address the
reasons cited by the party (country) seeking termination.”
Core
Issues
Dr. P.
R. Chari has illustrated four basic issues that provide an
overview to the present debate on the nuclear deal. First,
have both countries over-invested in the deal? India needs
to deepen its relations with the US, which occupies the apex
of political, military, economic and technological power in
the international system. The US needs to incorporate a democratic,
multiethnic and rising India into its strategic fold to shape
the evolving international system. It is arguable therefore
that Indo-US relations will weather the fate of the nuclear
deal, whichever direction it takes.
Second,
what are the compulsions informing both countries to negotiate
this deal? India requires nuclear technology from abroad—specifically
natural uranium for its heavy water reactors, low enriched
uranium for its light water reactors, and technical information
to hasten its fast breeder reactor programme. But it will
not join the Nonproliferation Treaty or accept full scope
safeguards. In lieu, the Bush Administration wishes to co-opt
India into its strategic scheme for containing the growing
challenge from China. In essence, the United States is sacrificing
its commitment to the nonproliferation regime at the altar
of regional diplomacy. This suits New Delhi. Besides gaining
recognition for its nuclear weapon status, it can acquire
nuclear technology and international finance to expand its
atomic energy programme, while ceasing to be excluded by technology
control regimes like the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Third,
the intense debate in India on this deal has been frugal on
assessing the place of atomic energy in India’s energy
future. Only 3000 MWs, less than 3 % of its total power, is
presently being generated by the Atomic Energy Commission
(AEC), despite some 50 years of strenuous effort. The Sarabhai
profile (1970) had envisaged the AEC producing 10,000 MWs
by 1980. Now, it is promised that 30,000 MWs would be generated
by 2022 and 63,000 MWs by 2032. How realistic are these targets,
if the AEC’s past record is reviewed? No details are
available on where the finances for this gigantic programme
would be found or how the accentuated problems of reactor
safety or waste disposal would be addressed. Apropos, wind
power production over the last decade has crossed 4000 MWs.
A willing suspension of disbelief is needed to accept the
AEC’s grandiose schemes.
Fourth,
the centrality of the AEC in India’s nuclear decision-making
processes has greatly accelerated after the Indo-US nuclear
deal was reached on July 18, 2005. The AEC’s new centrality
in the nuclear decision- making process is manifested by the
Prime Minister conceding that any final agreement reached
with the United States would be reviewed by a group of AEC
retirees, which is a modality unknown before in the annals
of the Indian administration.
The
Indian Nuclear Weapon Programme and its Strategic Implications
India’s
nuclear weapons, as part of a large military force, are under
democratic civilian command and control. Its nuclear posture
is guided by a defined doctrine of no-first-use and the principle
of minimum credible deterrence.
The future of India’s efforts towards creating minimum
credible deterrence should be viewed primarily in the context
of its security requirements in the changing nuclear security
environment in the region and at the international level.
In its immediate neighbourhood it has China whose nuclear
arsenal is significantly ahead, both in terms of the quantity
and quality of nuclear weapons. Pentagon itself believes that,
“China is qualitatively and quantitatively improving
its strategic missile force. This could provide a credible,
survivable nuclear deterrent and counterstrike capability.
It is fielding more survivable missiles capable of targeting
India, Russia, virtually all of the States, and the Asia-Pacific
theatre as far south as Australia and New Zealand.”
Not surprisingly,
China defines its security needs in terms of nuclear policies
of the other P-5 states, especially the US. But, the international
nuclear security environment is even more complex. The nuclear
posture review of the US for new weapons and missile defence
systems, Russia’s plan to introduce new long range missiles,
the ongoing programme of France for a new generation of nuclear-powered
ballistic submarines and Britain’s potential plan of
reviewing a replacement of the Trident systems – all
reflect the potential complexities of future world nuclear
security order. India cannot remain unaffected by such changes
in the nuclear security environment.
The Bush
Administration, departing from the position taken by earlier
US presidencies, has acknowledged India as a ‘responsible
state with advanced nuclear technology’. It also implicitly
recognises the de facto nuclear weapon status of India corresponding
to its security requirements. It is important here to examine
the non-proliferation lobby’s argument that “if
nuclear weapons are the great equalizer, why would not China
seek to use similar inducements to balance US power”,
in case of competing interests in West Asia and Northeast
Asia? Such an argument tends to equate the case of a transparent
nuclear deal between two responsible states with the possibility
of its replication by another NPT state with doubtful record
of proliferation and its non-transparent deals. The Chinese
effort to balance out US, within or outside the NPT obligations,
will clearly continue in spite of the India-US deal. Moreover,
before joining the NPT, China had enabled Pakistan to acquire
nuclear weapon capability. Even after China joined NPT, its
role in nuclear wheeling-dealing in the case of North Korea,
Pakistan and Iran has been evident. To prevent nuclear weapon
countries such as China from clandestine proliferation acts
is a problem essentially related to the enforcement of international
regimes and has nothing to do with India-US nuclear agreement.
India,
on the other hand, has not violated any international commitment
either in the making or testing of its nuclear weapons. Its
nuclear safety and security record has been internationally
appreciated. As an established democracy there is absolutely
no danger of India’s nuclear arsenal falling into the
hands of any rogue elements. Also, in sharp contrast to countries
like Pakistan, North Korea and China, India has never used
proliferation as a tool of foreign policy. In fact, many of
the nuclear proliferation problems of today are directly linked
to the A.Q. Khan network. The uninterrupted involvement of
Western suppliers in the Khan-led nuclear grey market, underlines
the fact that US and other European governments failed to
control these suppliers. The proliferation links of numerous
non- state actors in Europe prospered along with Khan’s
international nuclear black bazaar. The underground network
of commercial black marketing involved a large number of countries,
including the US, Germany, Britain, Canada, Spain, Italy,
Switzerland, Turkey, Japan, and South Africa. The Director-General
of IAEA has been quoted as admitting that Khan had commercial
contacts with at least 20 different countries and large companies.
As far
as proliferation of nuclear weapons, technology or material
is concerned, the future intention of a country is generally
evaluated by its past behaviour. In this regard too India
has an impeccable record of non- proliferation under an elaborate
system of domestic export control mechanisms. It has also
been conscious of the concerns of the international community.
India’s vote against Iran, based upon IAEA’s findings,
indicates that India expects everyone to honour accepted obligations
and international commitments. India has adopted an overarching
WMD domestic legislation, i.e., “The Weapons of Mass
Destruction and Their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful
Activities)”. The procedures set in the new law are
in tune with the UN Resolution 1540. The UN Security Council
had adopted resolution 1540 on April 28, 2004 with the affirmation
that proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons,
as well as their means of delivery, constitute a threat to
international peace and security. India has also taken conscious
decisions to harmonise its legal arrangements with international
export control regulations. Therefore, it is inappropriate
to assume that “several countries, including Iran, North
Korea, and perhaps Pakistan, would be expected to seek such
(dual-use technology) items illicitly in India with its weakly
enforced export laws.”
Benefits
for India
Benefits
to India are immense with this deal. First and foremost, is
there the de-facto recognition of India as a nuclear power?
It is not clearly stated in the deal, but it’s an implicit
understanding. India missed this opportunity in 1970-78. It
is unlikely that this opportunity is to be missed again. Second,
is this the future recognition of India as a permanent UN
Security Council member? With a Trillion and a half dollar
economy (8% growth over ten years), India will make this grade.
When UN reforming movement gains strength in the future, India
will be right there and waiting for this opportunity.
Third, this agreement means that the hurdles faced by India
in procuring nuclear technology and fuel have been removed
for good. Moreover, all other current restrictions on India's
access to America's high and dual technologies will also be
withdrawn as a result. Delhi will be able to do much more
business with the US in fields barred to Indians hitherto,
with the expectation that the volume of trade between the
two countries will double within the next two years from the
current US$ 24 billion.
Fourth,
this agreement will enable to build more nuclear power plants.
At present it has 15 functional plants with an additional
seven under construction. India stuck to it guns during the
course of tough negotiations during the last few months. It
did not agree to open all its nuclear facilities to international
inspection. Instead, it ingeniously divided its facilities
into "civilian" and "military" ones and
agreed to open only the former to international inspection.
According to currently available information, India will place
14 out of its 22 plants under the civilian list. Delhi thinks
that the nuclear energy is the answer to its ever-growing
needs for power. With this deal India will not have to depend
totally on foreign oil and gas for its increasing energy needs.
In a way
the American acceptance of the Indian nuclear position is
a reward to India for its consistent defiance and refusal
to join the NPT. In contrast, the US is adamant to deny nuclear
power to Iran which is not only a signatory to the NPT but
has also signed an additional protocol which provides more
transparency to Tehran's nuclear activities.
The US
wishes to engage India in its global schemes. India is already
a military partner of the US. Since 2001 it has carried out
35 joint military exercises at sea, land and air, both in
the US and in India. Indian Navy ships are already providing
escort and security facilities to the American military ships
passing through the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean on their
way to and from the Pacific through the Straits of Malacca
in Southeast Asia. Despite its willingness, a popular outcry
did not allow the BJP-led Indian government to send Indian
troops to Iraq to help out the American occupation forces.
The only
rationale behind the ongoing joint military drills is that
there are certain plans for joint Indo-American military action
in future. The US wants to use India as a bulwark in Asia
against the Chinese dragon. This kind of cooperation will
not go down well with Asia's emerging giant as well as with
many popular and political forces within India. Delhi has
also successfully sold to the US the idea that a democratic
India is a great ally against the Islamic terrorism America
is fighting at present.
The withdrawal
of sanctions against Delhi will help India in many ways. It
will open the gates for Indo-US cooperation in lucrative space
research and scientific cooperation in many fields which are
currently barred to Indians. The US has refused to offer a
similar deal to Pakistan. India, Washington says, has demonstrated
that it is a responsible nuclear power. Pakistan, on the other
hand, is accused of helping nuclear proliferation.
There
is an urgent need in India for capital to build its infrastructure
and manufacturing base. And there is only one source to get
it i.e. the US & Europe. The US and Europe at this moment
are content with sending capital to China to supply them with
consumer goods. The former very cleverly had avoided exporting
manufacturing technology to supply high priced, high technology
capital goods to China. This component together with auto-parts,
pharmaceuticals and computer hardware could herald India into
big leagues in ten years and beyond. Commercial Aircraft manufacture,
ship building, factories to make giant power plants, steel
making plants, mining & drilling hardware, petroleum &
petrochemical plant building facilities could be ultimately
shared with India. The latter within ten years will have a
workforce sufficiently skilled to undertake all the foregoing.
It will be beneficial for the US. Labour costs in India, will
always stay a third of the US, and the European costs. That
will make India an ideal candidate for this technology transfer.
After 50 years of isolation, India will have the opportunity
to say something, in world forums like UN, WTO and World monetary
lending institutions, and be heard. This was not the case
previously. Reasons – India had no clout. With western
economies in the future, tied more and more with India, the
latter’s clout will improve. There will be frequent
inter-government exchanges on matters of mutual interest.
India could become a full member of the select group of G-8
members. Gone will be the days that US politicians will heap
scorn on India, the way they are doing it today. The Indo
– US Nuclear deal is in fact dumping the past and unlocking
the hidden potential of the future. In addition Pakistan may
get the cue and begin a rethink of its policies towards India.
Indian military is in need to diversify its sourcing of military
hardware. Russia has been a very reliable source for the past
40 years. This source has to be diversified. Ultimately all
military hardware will have to be produced in India. But development
time in India is too long and success factor is low. This
has to be speeded up. The immediate benefit would be in getting
the latest technology for nuclear power generation. Current
progress in India on building its own nuclear power plants
at best has a failing grade. Most of nuclear power plants
in India are of other country’s design. The Indian Department
of Atomic Energy falsely clings to the view that Fast Breeder
Reactors will allow India to bridge the nuclear gap in the
future. That future may be difficult to arrive. It may be
too distant. This will hold economic development as hostage.
Moreover developing nuclear technology is one thing, implementing
it is another. For even homegrown technology, India will have
to import critical components.
“Corrective
Measures” Enshrined in the Agreement
Under
Section 123a(4) of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, every nuclear
agreement with a non-nuclear weapons state must include a
clause granting the U.S. the right to seek the return of nuclear
material and equipment exported pursuant to the agreement,
in the event of the recipient state exploding a nuclear device.
Since the premise of the July 18, 2005 Indo-U.S. statement
on civilian nuclear cooperation was that Washington was prepared
to accept India’s de facto nuclear weapon status, the
Bush administration should have ensured the waivers it sought
to the Act covered this requirement for nuclear commerce as
well. Unfortunately, it did not.
When formal
negotiations on the text of the bilateral nuclear agreement
began, the U.S. made it clear the ‘right of return’
would have to be included. The Indian side had two options.
It could either walk away or try to make the best of a bad
situation by crafting balancing provisions. In choosing the
latter, India’s negotiators sought to enshrine the commitments
the U.S. had made in July 2005 and March 2, 2006, and protect
the country from disruptions that would inevitably result
from any American attempt to take back nuclear fuel or vital
reactor components following an Indian test.
A careful
reading of the final 123 agreement — and in particular
Article 5.6 on fuel supply assurances, Articles 13 and 14
on the procedures, Article 10.2 on safeguards and Article
16.3 on duration — shows that their efforts have been
more than successful. A solid web of protection has been woven
by the interlocking nature of all rights and commitments contained
in the agreement. While the Bush administration can claim
the “right of return” has been “preserved”
and “protected,” the Manmohan Singh government
can also state with confidence that this right has been so
effectively boxed in as to render it harmless for all intents
and purposes.
To understand
why this is so, let us consider a hypothetical situation of
termination and see how the different layers in the agreement
might conceivably work even in the worst case scenario at
each stage. Assume the year is 2020, and India is running
one 1000 MW U.S.-supplied light water reactor with low enriched
uranium supplied by the U.S. India also maintains an LEU stockpile
equivalent to 20 years consumption by the reactor, the bulk
of which has been provided by the U.S.
If on
January 1, 2020, the Government of India were to test a nuclear
weapon, the U.S. would immediately serve notice for the termination
of the 123 agreement invoking Article 14.1. Under 14.2, India
and the U.S. would then have to “promptly hold consultations”
on the “relevant circumstances,” including whether
India’s test “resulted from [its] serious concern
about a changed security environment or as a response to similar
actions by other States which could impact national security.”
The importance of relevant circumstances is further reinforced
by Article 13.1’s stipulation that consultations on
termination would be between “two States with advanced
nuclear technology” with the “same responsibilities
and practices” as other such countries. If India’s
test followed that of another country, the consultation process
ought to end quickly and the notice of termination withdrawn.
If the Indian test was “unprovoked,” India could
still claim a change in the security environment. However,
since this exercise is about worst-case scenarios, let us
assume the U.S. is unmoved by India’s reasons.
Though
termination starts in one year after notice is served, Article
14.2 allows the U.S. to cease cooperation immediately if it
feels the consultations under that Article are not going anywhere.
By now, even if a few rounds of consultations have been held
prior to cessation of cooperation, we would already be in,
say, February. Once the cessation of cooperation takes place,
Article 14.4 gives the U.S. the right to seek the return of
nuclear equipment, material, and fuel transferred to India.
This right can only be exercised after “cessation”
and until the time termination actually takes place (i.e.
by January 1, 2021, in our example). However, let us assume
the U.S. invokes its right of return on February 1, listing
not just LEU stocks for the reactor it supplied but also certain
critical reactor components, knowing that the reactor would
be disabled as a result.
Once this
notice is served on India and before any items can actually
be returned, the U.S. is obliged under Article 14.5 to again
consult with India. Indeed, the exercise of this right must
pass through a number of legally binding filters. To begin
with, consultations “shall give special consideration
to the importance of uninterrupted operation of nuclear reactors”
in India. Article 14.6 says no item can be returned without
India being compensated “for the market value thereof
and for the costs incurred as a consequence of such removal.”
The latter costs are quite open-ended (which is why they do
not figure in any other 123 agreement) and return cannot take
place unless India and the U.S. agree on the amount of compensation
to be paid.
Article
14.7 also provides for one more hurdle prior to any return
of nuclear material: India must satisfy itself that “that
full safety, radiological and physical protection measures
have been ensured in accordance with [its] existing national
regulations” and that no risk will be posed to the “global
environment” in the process of return.
Even if
India is able to stretch this process out for several months,
there may come a time when the compensation and safety issues
are finally sorted out. At this point, however, the process
loops back because if the continuous operation of the U.S.-supplied
reactor is no longer possible, this would violate the U.S.
commitment in Article 14.8 that “the Party seeking the
return of nuclear items shall ensure that the timing, methods
and arrangements for return of nuclear items are in accordance
with paragraphs 14.5, 14.6 and 14.7,” the most important
provision of which is continuous operation of reactors.
Accordingly,
14.8 provides for yet another round of consultations, this
time aimed at addressing the “mutual commitments”
to assured fuel supply contained in Article 5.6. To drive
home this linkage, 14.8 states: “It is not the purpose
of the provisions of this Article regarding cessation of cooperation
and right of return to derogate from the rights of the Parties
under Article 5.6.” So tight is this linkage between
the right of return and the continuous operation of the U.S.-supplied
reactor that the “timing” of any return, especially
fuel, can only be calibrated with the replacement of U.S.
material with material provided by other “friendly countries.”
But what
would happen in a scenario where no friendly country is willing
to make good the fuel supplies the U.S. wants returned? This
would trigger the situation envisaged by 5.6(c) — the
right of India to take “corrective measures …
to ensure uninterrupted operation of its civilian nuclear
reactors in the event of disruption of foreign fuel supplies.”
The legal status of these corrective measures has been further
enhanced by three additional clauses in the 123 agreement.
In 14.8, the U.S. recognises them as India’s “rights”;
in Article 10.2, India explicitly states it is agreeing to
place U.S.-supplied nuclear equipment and material under IAEA
safeguards in perpetuity not in a free-standing manner but
“taking into account Article 5.6 of this Agreement”;
and Article 16.3 on entry into force and duration clearly
states: “notwithstanding the termination … of
this Agreement,” India’s rights under Article
5.6(c) “shall continue in effect” so long as U.S.-supplied
material remains in India.
No one
in government has ever explained what these “corrective
measures” might be. However, the 123 agreement’s
clear link between the perpetuity of IAEA safeguards —
even on U.S.-supplied material — and the assured supply
of fuel for the lifetime of all of India’s civilian
reactors provides a powerful deterrent to any U.S. desire
to seek the return of exported material or terminate the agreement.
For, once the U.S. invokes 14.1 and serves notice of termination,
it is likely to set in motion a sequence of steps and counter-steps
that could end with the suspension of safeguards by India.
Under
a worst-case scenario where the U.S. ignores its obligation
to ensure the continuous operation of Indian reactors, presumably
citing the Hyde Act, India would be under no obligation to
entertain an American request for the return of nuclear items.
If a U.S.-supplied fuel stockpile exists on Indian territory,
India could continue using that fuel if not doing so means
disrupting the operation of its reactors. Possession is more
than nine-tenths of the law. However, the Indian Government
of the day must be prepared to uphold its sovereign rights,
even if it means incurring the wrath of the U.S.
Conclusion
In the
post Cold War phase, the Bush Administration is of the belief
that nuclear proliferation is the greatest threat to the US
and the international community. There is a growing recognition
and concern that the acquisition of enrichment or reprocessing
facilities by a non-nuclear weapon state for peaceful purposes
can alternatively also be used for a nuclear weapon programme.
The US policy-makers and strategic analysts have been struggling
for decades to find ways to prevent access to such technology
to countries that do not have them. There has however been
no tangible result in addressing this tricky issue under the
prevailing non-proliferation regime.
In explaining
India’s position in this regard, the Foreign Secretary
categorically stated in October 2005: “India is today
a rapidly expanding industrial economy with a wide array of
technologies that are relevant to proliferation. That in itself
makes a case why our export controls and their effective implementation
will matter more and more for global non- proliferation efforts.”
As a country
with an exceptional non-proliferation record, even without
being a member of the NPT, India maintains a policy of non-transfer
of enrichment and reprocessing technologies. Reaffirming India’s
position before the international community, the Indian Prime
Minister reiterated this longstanding commitment in the US-India
Joint Statement of July 18, 2005 for the future too.
The pre-eminence
of US power in the global security system is quite apparent
after the collapse of the Soviet block. However, it is difficult
and even impossible for the US to successfully tackle security
issues like terrorism and WMD proliferation without cooperation
from other major countries such as India. Any future cooperation
on the issues that have an effect on the core national interests
of the two countries has to be durable and reliable. India
has already demonstrated its willingness to contribute to
the international struggle against terrorism. For example,
at the crucial early stages of the global war on terrorism,
in 2002 and 2003, the Indian Navy escorted US ships transiting
the Malacca Straits with high value military cargo.
As a victim
of terrorism, India well understood American concerns.India
has a shared interest with the US on the issue of non-proliferation.The
source of proliferation in the neighbourhood has been of grave
security concern for India as much as it is a cause of worry
for the US and the international community. Illegal nuclear
and missile transfers by China and Pakistan have not only
made the task of successive US administrations difficult,
they have also had serious consequences on international security.
It would be therefore unwise for India and US to continue
to fight such threats independent of each other.
India
as a nuclear weapon state, with an impeccable record of non-
proliferation, has not sought to destabilize the nuclear order
under the NPT, nor has its decisions in the nuclear field
harmed US interests. Therefore, it would not be prudent and
profitable to link US-India nuclear Indo-US Nuclear Deal and
Non-Proliferation cooperation to the larger problems of international
nuclear non-proliferation. Instead, the US lawmakers should
consider the merits of the deal and allow the Bush Administration
to build a long-term strategic partnership with India. The
assumptions of any potential claim by China to accord a similar
special status to Pakistan should also not come in the way
of the US-India nuclear deal. The primary purpose of the Indo-US
deal is to strengthen non-proliferation and not to scuttle
it. China and Pakistan, on the basis of past records, can
hardly make a similar claim.
At another
level, full cooperation in the nuclear energy sector betweenUS
and India will help remove mutual misperceptions flowing from
the hard line positions of the past that were based on principles
and values regarding the nature of the international nuclear
order. The attempt made by some eminent American non-proliferation
experts in their testimonies at the US legislative bodies
to bracket India with the countries of nuclear proliferation
concern, such as Pakistan, North Korea and Iran, are bound
to draw criticism in India as efforts to drag the Indo-US
nuclear deal into unwarranted, unfortunate and absurd comparisons.
As a state with a large nuclear programme that is outside
the NPT, India’s intention to assume additional responsibilities,
as proposed in the Joint Statement of July 2005, would clearly
strengthen the international non-proliferation systems and
not undermine them. India’s participation in global
non-proliferation efforts would therefore be of great advantage
to the US and other concerned states.