Modi in the US

The US, more than any other country, has been at the forefront of efforts to admit India to the club of ‘responsible’ nuclear powers that are allowed to buy and sell nuclear energy and use it for civilian purposes with precious little oversight. This happened despite India refusing to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty or take any other step to show it deserved this special treatment. The process of India’s entry into the nuclear club began just over a decade ago, when the US signed a civil nuclear accord with India. Now, the benefits of that agreement are starting to be felt. During his ongoing visit to the US, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama signed an agreement to begin the construction of six nuclear reactors in India. This is a significant deal for India since it shows how much the US now trusts the country, especially when added to the fact that top national security adviser Ben Rhodes has said the Obama administration supports welcoming India into the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The Missile Technology Control Regime, a 34-country grouping to prevent the proliferation of missiles and armed drones, has also assented to India’s membership. Ironically, by gaining membership to the MTCR, India will now find it easier to buy the very weaponry the group tries to control. US support for membership in the NSG is also crucial since China had been opposing it.

Modi has also promised that he will try to get the Paris climate agreement ratified. Once 55 countries ratify the agreement, all countries are prohibited from abandoning it before four years. Yet even this act of Modi is linked to India’s nuclear ambitions. The Modi-Obama joint statement pointed out that India is trying to move away from fossil fuels and the construction of the six reactors in India will help contribute to that. Yet, the US, despite knowing nuclear energy is much cleaner than coal-based power plants refuses to offer other countries the same deal. This is something Modi and his supporters will boast of as a big achievement. The man who was a pariah – not even allowed entry to the US for his role in the Gujarat massacre of Muslims – now has the US president and much of the US Congress eating out of his hand. Much of it has to do with the US desire to build up a counter-power to China. It also has to do with the Americans’ hypocrisy when it comes to dealing with India. It is astonishing how a religious fascist can be made so welcome just because he hums the neo-liberal tune on trade. Far from being just normalised, Modi is now feted.