New Delhi:
In a significant move to enhance bilateral cooperation, the United States has lifted restrictions on three major Indian nuclear entities, a decision that marks a crucial step in realizing the vision of civil nuclear cooperation laid out nearly two decades ago. This announcement, made by US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during his visit to India, comes just days before the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the US. The move is aimed at facilitating the implementation of the landmark India-US civil nuclear pact signed 16 years ago.
The US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has removed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR), and Indian Rare Earths (IRE) from its Entity List, following an interagency review. This decision was highlighted by Jake Sullivan in his address at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, where he emphasized that it would eliminate longstanding regulations that have hindered civil nuclear cooperation between Indian and American firms.
The removal of these entities is designed to support US foreign policy objectives by reducing barriers to advanced energy cooperation, including joint research and development, and science and technology collaboration. According to Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration Matthew Borman, this action aligns with and supports the overall ambition and strategic direction of the US-India partnership. It is also intended to secure more resilient critical minerals and clean energy supply chains between the two nations.
The historic civil nuclear agreement between India and the US was first unveiled in July 2005, following a meeting between then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then President George W. Bush. Although this agreement was finalized around three years later, full civil nuclear cooperation has yet to be realized, a point underscored by Jake Sullivan. Despite this, the cooperation in science and technology over the past several years has yielded significant benefits for both countries and their global partners.
This move is seen as a strategic initiative by the outgoing Biden administration to strengthen the US-India partnership, particularly in the realm of clean energy and advanced technology. By removing these restrictions, the US aims to foster a more collaborative environment that can drive innovation and mutual growth in the energy sector.
