OneWorld.net (U.S.)

OneWorld.net note: An international coalition that monitors nuclear exports should resist pressure to allow a U.S.-India nuclear trade deal that violates previous nuclear non-proliferation accords, says a Washington, DC arms control group.

• © Nuclear Age Peace FoundationIn 2006, the U.S. Congress approved an initial phase of a nuclear trade deal with India. The second phase of the agreement -- which was stalled by opposition from some Indian political parties -- "fails to uphold the non-proliferation requirements that Congress approved in 2006," writes Leonor Tomero of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. In particular, she adds, "the [George W. Bush] administration has made concessions to India as part of the deal that will enable India to expand significantly its capability to both produce nuclear weapons and stockpile nuclear weapons-usable material by extracting plutonium from U.S.-origin nuclear fuel. This is a whole new level of increased weapons and material production."

• U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have both said they want to rid the world of nuclear weapons, and they agree on several key points on the issue. But McCain's statements seem to leave more wiggle room, while Obama is more categorical in his commitments, say several national security experts who have been tracking the candidates.

Nuclear Suppliers Group Must Not Cave In To Bush Administration on U.S.-India Nuclear Deal

From: Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Leonor Tomero

August 21, 2008

Washington, D.C. - The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation today urged the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which is meeting today on the U.S.-India nuclear deal, not to capitulate to the Bush administration and permit an unprecedented exception in international nuclear trade rules for India.

Under pressure from the United States and India, the 45 countries of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an international consortium that monitors nuclear exports, are being asked to approve an exemption for India without any conditions.

"As one of only three countries that has never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and by continuing to refuse to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty or commit to stopping the production nuclear weapons-usable material, India has shunned meaningful nonproliferation commitments," said Leonor Tomero, Director for Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation."

The Suppliers Group will meet to discuss an exemption for India today and tomorrow, and is also expected to meet again on September 2. A group of Suppliers Group countries - including New Zealand, Ireland, Sweden, Austria, and Switzerland - has raised concerns about the consequences of the U.S.-India nuclear deal.

"The Nuclear Suppliers Group should not cave in to pressure by India and the United States, and hastily approve the nuclear deal because of the dangerous implications for nuclear nonproliferation efforts," added Tomero.

Lt. General Robert Gard (USA, Ret.), Chairman of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, warned "Granting an exception for India without conditions would undermine U.S. and international security by significantly weakening nuclear nonproliferation efforts at a time when nuclear weapons pose the gravest threat to the world."

Gard added: "The U.S.-India nuclear deal risks fueling a regional arms race with Pakistan, complicating negotiations over Iran, and unraveling the NPT, which has been the best defense against the spread of nuclear weapons for 40 years."

To read more about nuclear arms proliferation, visit the Center for Arms Control and Nuclear Non-Proliferation.