New Delhi: In a significant development signalling a deepening strategic partnership, the United States has removed three key Indian entities from its restrictive list, paving the way for enhanced civil nuclear cooperation. The entities removed are Indian Rare Earths, Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Center (IGCAR), and Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC).
The announcement was made shortly after a meeting between Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and outgoing US NSA Jake Sullivan during his visit to India. Sullivan highlighted the need to overcome past obstacles and fully realise the potential of the landmark civil nuclear deal signed between former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George Bush two decades ago.
“United States is now finalising the necessary steps to remove long-standing regulations that have prevented civil nuclear cooperation between India’s leading nuclear entities and U.S. companies,” Sullivan said at an event in New Delhi on the second day of a two-day
Sullivan specifically stated that the US was finalising the necessary steps to remove long-standing regulations hindering civil nuclear cooperation between leading Indian nuclear entities and US companies. He emphasised this move as an opportunity to “turn the page on some of the frictions of the past and create opportunities” for previously restricted Indian entities.
“The United States is now finalizing the necessary steps to remove long-standing regulations that have prevented civil nuclear cooperation between India’s leading nuclear entities and US companies,” he had said.
“The formal paperwork will be done soon, but this will be an opportunity to turn the page on some of the frictions of the past and create opportunities for entities that have been on restricted lists in the United States to come off those lists,” he added.
The US imposed restrictions on over 200 Indian entities after India’s 1998 nuclear tests. However, as bilateral ties strengthened, many of these restrictions were gradually lifted. The decision gains further significance in light of the 2019 agreement between India and the US to construct six US nuclear power plants in India.
