In the run up to the NPT Review Conference (3-28 May), there have been a number of critical developments. Russia and the United States have signed the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the Obama Administration just released its Nuclear Posture Review, and Washington is about to host one of its largest summits ever, on nuclear security.
India
Treading Water in 2010: The Nuclear Weapon States and Nuclear Disarmament
Country by country review of nuclear weapons states’ arsenals and their positions before the NPT Review Conference
US-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: What comes next?
On October 1, 2008 the US Congress passed the US-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. The long anticipated agreement would allow US companies to trade nuclear technology, information, and material to India. It has faced several hurdles, including first passing the US Congress in 2006, the Indian Parliament in July, the IAEA Board of Governors in August, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group in September. Controversy surrounds the agreement because, India is not an established member of the nonproliferation regime and it detonated nuclear devices in 1998.
The Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver
The NSG has granted India a waiver; however, members believed an unconditional waiver would undermine the non-proliferation regime and criticized the US position.
The US-India agreement and its impact on the non-proliferation regime
The Indo–US civilian nuclear agreement allowing the United States to trade nuclear material, including fuel and information, has serious implications for the NPT, IAEA safeguards and the NSG.
India and the nuclear deal
The Indo–US agreement has been criticized for creating a hole in the Non-Proliferation Treaty and complicating punishment against potential NPT violators, but its supporters claim it brings India into the broader non-proliferation regime.