The United States is set to lift restrictions on several Indian organizations working in the nuclear energy sector. This information was disclosed by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during his visit to New Delhi.
Speaking at an event at IIT Delhi on Monday, Sullivan said, “The United States is finalizing the necessary steps to remove long-standing restrictions that have hindered civil nuclear cooperation between India’s leading nuclear organizations and U.S. companies.”
He emphasized that this step is a significant move to strengthen India-U.S. bilateral partnerships, which has been a long-awaited goal.
After India’s nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1998, several countries imposed restrictions on India. The United States also placed sanctions on several Indian nuclear organizations to curtail India’s nuclear ambitions. Although some organizations were later removed from the list, many remain under restrictions.
Despite the nuclear deal signed during the tenure of former U.S. President George Bush and former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, several obstacles hindered its full implementation. Sullivan’s announcement points towards removing those barriers.
Key statements by the U.S. National Security Advisor
Sullivan said, “Although former President Bush and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid a strong foundation for civil nuclear cooperation nearly 20 years ago, we have yet to fully realize its potential.”
“The Biden administration believes that the time for taking the next major steps to strengthen U.S.-India collaboration in artificial intelligence and clean energy is long overdue. The United States is finalizing steps to remove long-standing restrictions that hinder civil nuclear cooperation between India’s leading nuclear organizations and U.S. companies. The formal paperwork for this is expected to be completed soon.”
This development is expected to pave the way for smoother bilateral collaboration. Sullivan further stated, “Scientists and technologists from the private sector can now work together with Indian organizations, enhancing civil nuclear cooperation between the two nations.”
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who was present at the event, also acknowledged the significance of Sullivan’s announcement.
The importance of this visit
As the Biden administration nears its end, Sullivan also met with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. He also held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and delivered a letter from outgoing President Joe Biden.
After the meeting, Indian Prime Minister Modi remarked, “The comprehensive global strategic partnership between India and the United States has already reached new heights in areas like technology, defense, space, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence.”
He expressed hope that relations between the two democracies would continue to grow for the benefit of the people and the world.
Expert opinions
Sullivan’s visit has drawn mixed reactions from experts. Rajiv Dogra, an expert on Indian foreign policy and a writer, stated that it is not a common practice for officials from an outgoing administration to visit another country, especially when tensions exist between the two nations.
For instance, tensions arose after allegations were made against Indian officials from the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in connection with the murder conspiracy of Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. The U.S. even sent documents related to this case to India, seeking clarification, though India denied the allegations.
Dogra noted, “These issues were not raised during this visit, nor was it explicitly clarified why this visit was deemed necessary just two weeks before the new U.S. president takes office. More information may come to light in the future.”
American think tank Wilson Center’s Michael Kugelman also commented on Sullivan’s visit. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “At IIT Delhi, Jake Sullivan provided a detailed assessment of U.S.-India security and technology relations.”
Interestingly, he linked democratic values with technological advancements and announced that the remaining barriers to civil nuclear cooperation would soon be removed.
Meanwhile, Professor Upamanyu Basu from the Department of Political Science at the Manav Rachna Institute of Research and Studies believes the visit was largely ceremonial.
He stated, “The White House described this as a farewell visit. U.S.-India relations remain stable overall. While there was a distinct dynamic during Trump’s term, Biden’s administration brought stability. Therefore, this farewell visit holds significance.”
Historical context and expected benefits
India conducted nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1998, prompting economic sanctions from several countries. The U.S. imposed restrictions on over 200 Indian organizations operating in the nuclear sector.
Over time, economic sanctions were lifted, and several Indian organizations were removed from the U.S. restriction list, but many remained.
During Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure, India signed a nuclear agreement with the U.S., aiming to secure American nuclear reactors for India. However, disagreements over terms, such as liability in case of nuclear accidents, prevented the deal’s full implementation.
Sullivan’s recent announcement seeks to remove these barriers.
While detailed information about lifting the restrictions is yet to be disclosed, both countries have said that lifting the U.S. restrictions would enable Indian and U.S. organizations to collaborate in the civil nuclear sector. This could lead to advancements in renewable energy and help address India’s growing energy demands.
India had set a target of generating an additional 20,000 megawatts of power from nuclear plants by 2020, which has now been extended to 2030. In 2019, India and the U.S. agreed to build six U.S.-made nuclear power plants in India. In 2022, both nations also launched initiatives to collaborate on semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence. In this context, Sullivan’s announcement is noteworthy.