India’s historic civilian nuclear deal with the United States in 2008 would remain a crowning glory for Manmohan Singh’s Prime Ministership in the foreign policy arena as it not only ended the country’s nuclear apartheid but also created a favorable geopolitical configuration.
Dr. Singh, the then Prime Minister, was so confident about the future outcomes of the historic agreement that he showed determination to pursue it strongly, even though the existence of his government was at stake during the no-confidence vote in Parliament.
The civil nuclear deal changed India’s overall engagement with the US as it paved the way for forging bonds of strategic partnership especially in the areas of high-technology and defence.
In July 2005, following Dr. Singh’s talks with then US President George W. Bush, India and the US announced that they would cooperate in civil nuclear energy.
In an address to the joint session of the US Congress on July 19, Dr. Singh highlighted in detail the need for India-US cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector and pointed out New Delhi’s impeccable record in nuclear non-proliferation.
He had said, “We have scrupulously followed every rule and principle in the region. We have done so even when we have witnessed uncontrolled nuclear proliferation in our neighbourhood, which has directly affected our security interests. “
“This is because India, as a responsible nuclear power, is fully conscious of the enormous responsibilities that come with advanced technologies, both civil and strategic,” Dr Singh said.
“We have never been and never will be a source of proliferation of sensitive technologies,” he said.
After a series of negotiations, the IAEA approved the safeguards agreement with India on August 1, 2008, after which the US obtained approval from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to give New Delhi a waiver to begin civil nuclear trade. Contacted.
The NSG granted a waiver to India on September 6, 2008, allowing it to acquire civilian nuclear technology and fuel from other countries.
The agreement was signed on October 10 by then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his American counterpart Condoleezza Rice.
After this agreement, India’s overall strategic cooperation with the US saw a major boost.
Dr. Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister in the first UPA government also saw improved relations between India and Pakistan, a phase that began in 2004 under the leadership of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
However, this changed after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008.
Dr Singh died on Thursday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. He was 92 years old.
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