.S. president George W. Bush calls it "historical," but something has happened in which he directly disregards history, namely the agreement on nuclear cooperation between the U.S. and India. India will keep its military and non-military nuclear facilities separate, and the non-military facilities will be subject to international inspection. In exchange, the U.S. will provide India with nuclear fuel and technology. India is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has faced international sanctions ever since declaring it possesses nuclear weapons eight years ago.
It is clear the agreement will weaken the NPT, which has been key in preventing the spread of nuclear arms for decades, because the U.S. has now unilaterally recognized a non-member state's possession of such weapons. The treaty had already long been criticized for being a tool for nuclear states to maintain their privileges. If it can be disregarded for gain, who will want to abide by it?
The agreement is a fine demonstration of the double standard the U.S. applies in its foreign policy. Furthermore, the U.S. Defense Department says India will be purchasing American-made fighter jets, helicopters, and reconnaissance ships. The idea is to embrace India as a strategic partner and keep China in check. In other words, nuclear weapons in India are aren't obstacles to nuclear non-proliferation, they're a strategic tool against China. It's an arrogant attitude that says, "America has decided, the world must follow."
This could be about to complicate efforts to resolve nuclear issues with Iran and North Korea. How are they going to respond if those two countries suddenly demand to have their right to possess nuclear arms recognized since they're ready to have their non-military facilities given international inspection? Are the Americans going to say that India is a democratic country and acquired its nuclear arms "legally," as members of the Bush Administration like to claim? What are they going to do if the more than 100 democratic nations around the world all say they are going to "legally" maintain nuclear weapons?
The Hankyoreh, 4 March 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] U.S. Destroying NPT Regime |
