Visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh elicited South Africa to support its civilian nuclear deal with the US and got a commitment from President Thabo Mbeko that his country will support the deal in the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG). Mbeki assured India that while the Brazil NSG meet could not decide on the deal because it had not crossed Congressional hurdles in the US , his country, as a key member of the 45-nation grouping, “has absolutely no problem” and “will surely support India .”
Besides this assurance, the two nations signed the Tshwane Declaration reiterating the “unwavering commitment” of both nations “to the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons in a comprehensive, universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable manner” and within a specified time frame. At the same time, the two nations said that they recognized “the inalienable right of all States to the peaceful application of nuclear energy, consistent with their international legal obligations.” This Declaration also said “that international civilian nuclear co-operation, under appropriate IAEA safeguards, among countries committed to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives could be enhanced through acceptable forward-looking approaches, consistent with their respective national and international obligation.” The “forward-looking” phraseology is seen by many as New Delhi ’s desire of wanting to be exempted from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).