US-India ties tighten with nuclear deal

(Baonghean) - The “Shaping Visit for US-India Relations” has once again been proven, when in addition to the Agreements signed between the US and India, an issue considered a barrier in the bilateral relationship, civil nuclear, has been cleared. Accordingly, on the first working day of the 3-day visit to India, the heads of the two countries announced that they had achieved a major breakthrough in the long-stalled civil nuclear cooperation agreement.

President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“US-India break deadlock in civil nuclear deal”, or “Landmark achievement” are the headlines used by many major newspapers around the world when the US and India announced a breakthrough in the civil nuclear agreement. Many newspapers also commented that the opening of the civil nuclear agreement even played a role as a successful start to President Obama's trip. Not only public opinion but also insiders did not hesitate to praise this unexpected “success”. Immediately after the meeting that lasted more than 3 hours in New Delhi with President Obama, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his joy and affirmed that, “6 years after signing the bilateral agreement, the two sides are moving towards trade cooperation, in accordance with Indian and international laws”. Mr. Modi also affirmed that the two countries, the US and India, have begun a “new journey” of cooperation, with defense and trade relations being strengthened. Responding to the Indian leader's attitude, the White House boss also affirmed that the two sides reaching an agreement on the civil nuclear issue is "an important step" showing how the two countries can coordinate with each other.

It is not an exaggeration to say that international public opinion as well as insiders have praised the nuclear agreement signed between the US and India. It is completely understandable that this civil nuclear agreement is considered an important milestone in the US-India relationship. According to US Ambassador to India Richard Verma, "the two countries finding a common voice on the civil nuclear issue" will be a premise to help resolve disagreements on legal responsibility in the nuclear issue. Previously, India and the US signed a civil nuclear agreement in 2008, but there were two major issues that prevented bilateral cooperation between the two powers. Previously, the implementation of the agreement between the two sides was delayed due to US concerns after the Indian Nuclear Law was enacted and held all accidents responsible for the supplier, while the US and France said that India must comply with international standards, meaning that the responsibility must belong to the regulatory agency. Second, India has also been excluded from global nuclear cooperation for decades due to its non-participation in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In addition, in fact, another issue that has been considered to delay the US-India nuclear deal in the past is that the US has always wanted to know how and where the nuclear fuel it supplies to India is used, but India believes that this request is unacceptable, based on the safety assurance provisions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The breakthrough agreement reached during the US President's visit to India has actually been accelerated quite quickly in recent times. During his visit to the US last September, Prime Minister Modi and President Obama decided to establish a high-level working group on civil nuclear cooperation. The group has held three rounds of detailed negotiations on a series of issues of implementation of the agreement, including administrative management, legal responsibilities, technical and licensing, to facilitate the construction of US-designed nuclear power plants in India. This also shows that both sides are aware of the results of this nuclear negotiation agreement. For India, the immediate benefits are not difficult to see: the world's second most populous country will receive technology and materials from the world's number 1 power for its civil nuclear program. This is a very important plan for the development of India, a country that is in the midst of an economic boom but is always struggling with electricity. As for the US, in addition to the obvious benefits related to nuclear fuel trade, access to a very large and fast-growing Indian market, the US will benefit a lot more. It is the realization of Mr. Obama's strategy of pivoting to Asia - which is suspected of being more talk than action. In other words, the US - India "handshake" will give the US a powerful ally, capable of counterbalancing China in the competition for influence in the Asian region.

Although it is considered a nuclear breakthrough, no one is sure whether this "breakthrough" will follow the same path as the 2008 agreement. Analysts say that there are still many obstacles in implementing this nuclear agreement. Among them, separating civilian nuclear from military programs to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in India - which has always been doubted by the US Congress - will not be easy to solve.

Thanh Hien