Nuking the nuke deal

OPINION:

After two years of negotiating a civil nuclear deal with the United States, India could hardly have expected a sweeter deal. Hailed as the centerpiece of President Bush’s new strategic relationship with India, India won concessions on securing a supply of nuclear fuel. Now, its politicians are crying foul.

Shockingly, the deal is being jeopardized by politicians in India. The charge from the Communist parties is that India is compromising its sovereignty and foreign-policy decision-making ability. What India’s leftists really oppose, however, are closer relations with the United States. The largest opposition party has also objected, but out of concern that the deal would hinder India’s nuclear weapons program. A strange criticism, as most analysts believe the opposite.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), one of India’s four Communist Parties, has been vocal in its threat to withdraw support for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh if India continues negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). India’s Parliament doesn’t need to approve the deal, but this isn’t a hollow threat. Without that support, Mr. Singh won’t be able to pass legislation.

India needs to reach agreements on safeguards and inspections with the IAEA and the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group. The deal also requires final approval from Congress, which in December approved a change to the Atomic Energy Act that paved the way for the civil nuclear cooperation with India. The changes passed with strong bipartisan support in both the House (359-68) and the Senate (85-12). The final terms of the agreement, released just over a month ago, are still subject to congressional approval.

The most common criticism of the deal is that it sends the wrong message. By making an exception for India, the argument goes, the United States undermines the validity of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The objection is not without merit, but in reality international inspectors would have better access under the agreement than they do currently, and more safeguards would be applied to parts of India’s nuclear program.

To his credit, Mr. Singh has stood strong against an opposition that either can’t recognize India’s interests or isn’t committed to pursuing them. This mutually beneficial opportunity for the United States and India to further an equally beneficial strategic relationship should not be wasted.