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	Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs

	Regional Issues

	U.S. - India: Civil Nuclear Cooperation

U.S. - India: Civil Nuclear Cooperation

Under the leadership of President Bush and Prime Minister Singh, the United States and India have moved forward on building the bonds of a strategic partnership. In July 2005, the two leaders announced a broad slate of initiatives as part of the new commitment to a comprehensive bilateral relationship.

Among these, the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative has garnered the greatest attention. The United States and India share three objectives in undertaking this initiative: to remove core differences that impeded our strategic relationship for more than 30 years, to support India’s economic growth and energy security in an environmentally sound way, and to strengthen the global nonproliferation regime.

On July 18, 2005, the U.S. and India announced the launch of the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative. Under the parameters of this initiative, India will commit all of its civilian nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards. On August 1, 2008 the IAEA Board of Governors approved India’s safeguards agreement, paving the way for India’s consideration at the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Currently, the United States is seeking a Nuclear Suppliers Group exemption in order to permit trade with India's expanding peaceful nuclear sector. The accompanying agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation will permit American and Indian companies to partner together in ways that will foster growth in India’s civil nuclear sector, create a clean energy source which will benefit the environment, and will offer India greater energy security with stable sources of energy for its large and growing economy.

As part of the overall initiative, India will expand international safeguards, adhere to international nuclear and missile export guidelines, continue its voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing, and ensure that all civil nuclear trade will be used only for peaceful purposes. Because India will place a greater number of its reactors under safeguards, it reduces the nuclear infrastructure available for its weapons program. These commitments constitute significant gains for global nonproliferation efforts.

Fact Sheets
--09/12/08 U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative
--07/27/07 U.S. Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative - Bilateral Agreement on Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation
--12/18/06  The United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act PDF version
--12/18/06  U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative PDF version
--03/09/06  U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative PDF version
--03/02/06 United States and India: Strategic Partnership
--02/27/06  The United States and India: A Growing Strategic Partnership PDF version
--07/22/05  U.S.-India Civilian Nuclear Cooperation
--07/18/05 U.S. and India Successfuly Complete Next Steps in Strategic Partnership

Press Releases
--08/25/08 The U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative
--08/22/08  Working Towards the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement;
--08/01/08 Approval of India's Safeguards Agreement by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors
--07/24/08  The India Safeguards Agreement: Moving India Towards the Nonproliferation Mainstream
--07/22/08  India's Confidence Vote
--07/20/08 U.S.-India Joint Press Statement
--07/11/08  India's Decision to Move Forward on the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Deal
--06/27/08  U.S.-India Relations
--04/07/08  Strategic Context of U.S.-India Relations
--03/24/08  Remarks With Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Kumar Mukherjee
--03/05/08  Indian and U.S. Relations
--03/05/08  U.S.-India Relations
--08/03/07 U.S. and India Relase Text of 123 Agreement  PDF
--07/27/07 Conclusion of Negatiations with India on Bilateral Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation
--07/11/07 India's Decision to Move Forward on the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Deal
--07/14/07 Upcoming Visit of Senior Indian Officials
--05/01/07 State Department Officials Meet With Indian Foreign Secretary Menon
--07/27/06  House Vote on U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative
--03/08/06  India Civil Nuclear Cooperation: Responding to Critics
--03/02/06  U.S.-India Joint Statement
--12/22/05 U.S. Officials Meet with Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran
--07/18/05  Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Background
--12/12/06 Hyde Act as Passed by Both Houses of Congress
--12/12/04 Statement by the President: Next Steps in Strategic Partnership With India: White House, Washington, DC

Highlights

U.S.-India Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy
October 2, 2008
Secretary Rice: "Prime Minister Singh and President Bush’s vision to have this agreement cement and be one of the cornerstones of our relationship, but I just want to take a moment to say that it is not the only element of this relationship. As much as the Civil Nuclear Agreement is a breakthrough, this is also a friendship that is based on values, a friendship that is based on ties, people-to-people ties, including the 80,000 or so Indian students who study in the United States. I know that the U.S.-India Business Council is here representing the varied interests that we have economically with India. It is a relationship that is cultural. It is a relationship that goes very, very deep. So as important as this agreement is, it is a part of a much broader framework for our enduring friendship." Full Text

America's Strategic Opportunity With India
Under Secretary for Political Affairs Burns (10/18): The rise of a democratic and increasingly powerful India is a positive development for U.S. interests. Rarely has the United States shared so many interests and values with a growing power as we do today with India. By reaching out to India, we have made the bet that the future lies in pluralism, democracy, and market economics. full text

President Bush Meets with Indian Prime Minister Singh
"I know you've been through difficult times, and America mourns the loss of innocent life as a result of the terrorist attacks. ... One of the issues that we've been discussing here at the G8 is the recent terrorist activities in the Middle East. Yesterday, in working with other members of the G8, we cobbled together a very important statement. I'm most pleased that the leaders came together to say, look, we condemn violence, we honor innocent life."

-- President Bush, July 17, 2006

Unlocking the Full Promise of the U.S.-India Relationship
"...[A]s a rising global power, India can be a pillar of stability in a rapidly changing Asia and a strategic partner for the United States....A key to unlocking the full promise of this partnership is the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative [which] will elevate our partnership to a new strategic level...will enhance energy security...will benefit the environment, [and] will create opportunities for American jobs."

-- Secretary Rice, July 10, 2006

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