WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The U.S. has made public its backing of India’s bid to become members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and one country cannot stop international consensus on this, a senior Barack Obama administration official said in New Delhi today.
“We are committed to having India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group,” said Thomas Shannon, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
“India’s recent entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) highlights that India is a responsible and important player in non-proliferation,” he added.
Shannon’s remarks follow China’s blocking of India’s membership at the NSG plenary earlier this month in Seoul. China stymied the international consensus required for membership to the 48-nation club, on the grounds that India should first be required to sign a non-proliferation treaty.
India formally applied for NSG membership on May 12.
“We regret that in Seoul, we were unable to open the space necessary to have India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group at this moment,” Shannon said. “We understand that in a consensus-based organization, one country cannot stop international consensus.”
Earlier this month, Shannon addressed a public gathering by saying that civil nuclear cooperation was a “very important symbol” of the India-U.S. relationship.
“Where the nuclear question once divided us, today it brings us together,” he said.
“Just a few weeks ago, President Obama and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi welcomed the start of preparatory work on a site in Andhra Pradesh for six AP 1000 reactors to be built by an American company.
“This is expected to provide jobs in both countries and bring clean, reliable electricity that will help meet India’s growing energy needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.”
Shannon also called upon Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks that the U.S. might not have a stronger relationship with any other nation in the world as it does with India.
“A key factor has certainly been the connection between our two peoples,” he said.
“The three million Indian Americans are some of the most successful people in the United States. They have started 15 per cent of Silicon Valley companies, become governors and Members of Congress, and won the Miss America pageant.”
