The United States has reaffirmed its support for India’s bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a group of nuclear supplier countries aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. In a joint statement released by the US and India, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the crucial role of nuclear energy in global decarbonization efforts and acknowledged its significance in addressing the climate, energy transition, and energy security needs of both nations.
The leaders highlighted the ongoing discussions on collaborative efforts to develop next-generation small modular reactor technologies for the domestic market and potential export. They also acknowledged the negotiations between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) for the construction of six nuclear reactors in India.
Furthermore, the statement mentioned the intensified consultations between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to facilitate opportunities for Westinghouse Electric Company to present a techno-commercial offer for the Kovvada nuclear project in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam.
The joint statement reiterated the United States’ commitment to supporting India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and expressed its dedication to engaging with like-minded partners to advance this objective.
The NSG guidelines, established in response to a non-nuclear-weapon state’s nuclear device explosion in 1974, encompass two sets of guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports. These guidelines include the “Non-Proliferation Principle,” adopted in 1994, which ensures that a supplier authorizes a transfer only when satisfied that it would not contribute to nuclear weapons proliferation. The NSG’s guidelines align with various international legally binding instruments in the nuclear non-proliferation domain.
At present, the Nuclear Suppliers Group consists of 48 member countries, including Argentina, Cyprus, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Japan, Poland, Sweden, Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, Finland, Latvia, Romania, Turkey, Brazil, France, Lithuania, South Korea, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Germany, Luxembourg, Russia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Greece, Malta, Serbia, the United States, China, Hungary, Mexico, Slovakia, Croatia, Iceland, Netherlands, and Slovenia.