Faulty Promises

The controversial civil nuclear cooperation deal signed by Indian and US leaders in July has sounded alarms around the world. George Perkovich, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, reviews the fallout of the pact, critically assessing the ramifications of revised Indo-US nuclear relations. In a policy brief, he argues that the strategic premises underlying the revised US policy were faulty. The US wrongly sees India as a counterbalance to the growing power of China, thrusting the South Asian state into a larger chess game of realpolitik. As a state that has historically eschewed broad alliances, India may not be well-suited to such political maneuvers. “India is too vital a country for the United States to regard as instrument against another country,” states Perkovich. He applauds providing India with civilian nuclear material, a source of energy necessary for the country’s further economic development. Yet he insists that the US cannot approach India simply as a counterweight to China. Furthermore, Perkovich fears that the loosening of restrictions in favor of India could inadvertently undermine the global nonproliferation regime, an outcome that will do more harm than good. – YaleGlobal.