SSB GD Topic: INDO – US NUCLEAR DEAL - Part 2

In part 1 I tried to concentrate about the details of the deal between the two countries. Here lets discuss a bit further about what are the views of the two countries about the deal.

MIXED REACTIONS IN BOTH THE COUNTRIES

What the proponents of the Indo nuclear deal say?

1. The agreement is an outcome of the Us reorganization That India is a major power in the 21st century .So that it is important for US to have a comprehensive relationship with India .

2. The nuclear deal would bring the two countries together and enable to work them together in fighting terrorism, spreading democracy and preventing the domination of India by a single power.

3. The deal recognizes India’s history of imposing voluntary safeguards on its nuclear program. After the safeguards on the US supplied Tarapur Nuclear power Plant expired in 1993, India voluntarily established an agreement with IAEA to continue the restrictions.

4. It should also be noted that both India and US concerns regarding China rise & specifically in military modernization which will help them both .

Objections by the experts/hardliners

In United States:
1. Critics in the US have questioned the deal. They have argued that the deal would  start a nuclear arm race in Asia as India have been recognized by the US as a leading country with the advanced nuclear technology thus granting it a de facto NWS (Nuclear Weapon State) status.

2. The safeguards do not cover the nuclear fissile material that India had already produced till now.

3. The deal does not require India to cap or limit its fissile material production.

4. The deal does not require India to restrict the number of nuclear weapons it plans to produce.

In India:

1. Many media experts, former nuclear – establishment scientists and many leaders from the BJP party have criticized the deal severely and termed it as a threat to Indian security.

2. Many strategic experts argue that separating the Military and Civilian nuclear facilities according to the deal and then placing the civilian facilities under the IAEA safeguards would limit the fissile material made available to the military purpose .

3. According to many experts when the fissile material for India’s nuclear would hardly be available, then India would be forced to establish new dedicated military facilities which would be highly costly and create an unnecessary and extra economic burden.

A WIN – WIN SITUATION FOR BOTH THE COUNTRIES

Benefits for USA:

1. Today India is in respectable position in the world and is emerging as an economic power. So, ignoring India can make the USA feel uneasy at many fronts.

2. Economic Benefit:  India plans to set up 10 large nuclear power plants in the coming 15 years . India would purchase the required technology and equipment's for this project from US only . For this purpose orders worth $ 15 – 20 billion would be placed with the different US companies.

3. Political Benefit: India, being the major regional power could help US to control and relax the tempers of the government and people of these countries.

4. Military Benefits: US knows that India being a major military power can be of immense help. Major portion of the US oil and commerce passes through the Indian Ocean region, which are these days under the threat of Pirates. Indian cooperation can come handy in keeping the sea route free and safe.

Benefits for India:

1. India had received the de facto recognition of being a Nuclear Power.

2. Economic Benefits: United States is going to help India in developing its infrastructure and manufacturing sector. There would be an increased cooperation in commercial aircraft manufacturing, ship building, establishing giant power plants and steel plants, mining and drilling hardware and petrochemical plant building facilities.

3. Political Benefits: US is going to back India’s permanent membership in the select group of G8 members.

4. Military Benefits: Russia has been a very reliable source of military equipment's for the past 40 years. India is looking to expand its source of military hardware.

CONCLUSION: The Indo – US nuclear deal is definitely going to strengthen the relations of the two countries. The US has helped India to reach on the high table , but now India makes use of this & shapes the architecture.As far as India is concerned , the most important result of this deal would be that India’s electricity situation will improve to a great extent.I would like to hear the views from other colleagues so that the discussion can be fruitful. Please use the comment section for the same.

About the author: Sunil Sahu is an electronics and telecommunication engineer and a die heart defense aspirant. He loves cooking and has a vast knowledge about cars and their latest developments. Through this article he wants to help defense aspirants by presenting his critical views on the topic, on the forum so that collective exchange of thoughts can take place. (edited and reviewed by Jayendra Pratap Singh)