India Intelligence Report

 

 

   South Africa to Back Nuke Deal

  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).
 

 

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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).

India for its part seemed to endorse South Africa ’s claim to a place in a expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC) saying that it was “eminently entitled to that seat.” India , along with Brazil , Germany , and Japan all want to be part of an expanded UNSC with veto powers. It formed a Group of 4 (G-4) grouping to lobby for this expansion. The grouping seemed to be a strategically disastrous since Japan was opposed by China , Germany by the US , and Brazil by Argentina and other South American nations, and India was blind-sided by China ’s opposition. Further, African nations were incensed that they have been left out of this grouping and questioned yet another European nation joining the UNSC.

This is another area where the India-Brazil-South Africa grouping can work together to rally support for their membership.