Strengthening Global Norms on Nuclear Proliferation

By JENNIFER ANDREW

The single most damaging step for the global non-proliferation regime was the US-India Civilian Nuclear Technology Agreement with India that was pushed and signed by former President Bush. Many experts and lobbies in the US voiced their concern but nothing stopped the Bush administration. The Agreement came at a time when there was a surge in the demand for nuclear power around the world and nuclear trade was set to pick up speed. It was also timed with the Iran and North Korean nuclear ventures and significantly weakened the US position thus giving more maneuver room to Russia and China. The Nuclear Suppliers Group also exposed itself as vulnerable to US pressure and the lure of nuclear commerce.

Now as the US Secretary of State visits India she would do well to note that the G-8 Summit in L'Aqila Italy in its declaration has asked for progress on the mechanism to strengthen controls on transfers of enrichment and reprocessing (ENR) technology and materials. This demand is fully justified. It is in line with the need to strengthen the global norms on proliferation and not to take steps that undermine them. No amount of Indian pressure should lead the US to change this stance.

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