“Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.”
At the time of the cold war India and the United States each choose different sides of the coin. However, over the recent years India and the United States have gotten closer as they rely on each other more. It has been a few years in the making but Manmohan Singh and George W. Bush have recently reached a deal that could finalize a nuclear fuel treaty. Talks have been slow and difficult since there was concern over India wanting to test weapons and reproces spent fuel. India is a somewhat energy hungry country and nuclear power makes up aproximately 3% of all energy produced there. However, there are 14 reactors for commercial purposes and another 9 in the making, which may bring the percentage of nuclear fuel up to 25% by the year 2050. The deal requires India to import US civilian grade nuclear fuel in return for opening it’s civilian nuclear program to inspections under the understanding that India does not have to support the US policy towards Iran. The agreement is not in effect yet and will not be until it is ratified by congress, the International Atomic Energy Agency approves and inspection program and the Nuclear Suppliers Group gives it’s approval. For years the two nations have disagreed about this issue but now they are compromising to find an appropriate solution.
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