Congress Approves Nuclear Power Assistance for India

Before Congress adjourned on Dec 9 they passed legislation to assistance India with civilian nuclear power production, even though such assistance is banned under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) that for nonnuclear nations that build nuclear weapons. India pursued nuclear weapons before seeking assistance from the U.S. under NPT.

Normally, the U.S. seeks to use the NPT as an incentive for nonnuclear weapons nations to pursue civilian nuclear power by agreeing to inspections of their facilities in exchange for civilian nuclear power assistance and an agreement not to build nuclear weapons. This principle has been stood on its head with India.