Indo-US Nuclear Deal is Problematic

The controversial civil nuclear cooperation deal signed by Indian and US leaders in July has sounded alarm bells around the world. George Perkovich, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wades through the fallout of the pact, critically assessing the ramifications of revised Indo-US nuclear relations. Perkovich argues that the strategic premises underlying the revision in US policy were faulty. The US wrongly sees India as a counterbalance to the growing power of China. 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.” Perkovich applauds the provisioning of India with civilian nuclear material, a source of energy necessary for the country’s further economic development. Yet he insists that the US must approach India on its own terms and not simply as a counterweight to China. Furthermore, Perkovich fears that the loosening of restrictions in favor of India will inadvertently undermine the global nonproliferation regime, an outcome that will do much more harm than good. – YaleGlobal.