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ANALYSTS VIEW: U.S.-India nuclear deal
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress on Wednesday approved a deal ending a three-decade ban on U.S. nuclear trade with India, unleashing billions of dollars of investment and drawing the world's second most populous country closer to the West.
The Bush administration says the pact will secure a strategic partnership with the world's largest democracy, help India meet its rising energy demand and open up a market worth billions.
But critics say the deal does grave damage to global efforts to contain the spread of nuclear weapons, by letting India import nuclear fuel and technology even though it has tested nuclear weapons and never signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
COMMENTS:
C. RAJA MOHAN, SINGAPORE-BASED SECURITY ANALYST
"The deal gives a kind of parity between India and China in terms of geopolitical and strategic importance in Asia.
"Before the deal, India was not part of the international calculus in Asia. Now it is."
MOHAN MALIK, PROFESSOR AT THE ASIA PACIFIC Center FOR SECURITY STUDIES, HONOLULU
"In terms of India-United States, it will be a boost for business ties. It's not just about nuclear technology but the transfer of high technology to India.
With business, the major beneficiaries will be the United States, France and Russis, in that order. In security and geopolitical terms, it de-hyphenates India and Pakistan, and re-hyphenates India and China in terms of a competitive strategic relationship.
It brings about a shift in the balance of power in South Asia. It will not please Pakistan and China but it remains to be seen whether it will damage the Non-Proliferation Treaty."
DARYL KIMBALL, HEAD OF THE ARMS CONTROL ASSOCIATION, WASHINGTON
"The U.S.-Indian Agreement for Nuclear Cooperation is ... a non-proliferation disaster. Contrary to the counterfactual claims of proponents and apologists, it does not bring India into the "non-proliferation mainstream."
CHANG YOUNG HO, NUCLEAR ENERGY EXPERT FROM THE ECONOMICS DIVISION OF S. RAJARATNAM SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, SINGAPORE
"... it is significant because the deal is aiming for civilian use, it could set a good precedent for cooperative competition. It's a good example in terms of the U.S. and India on how big countries can collaborate, increase the pie and increase the field and compete in it."
(Reporting by Alistair Scrutton in Delhi, Melanie Lee in Singapore; Editing by Valerie Lee)
