The US–India Nuclear Accord
The United States–India Civil Nuclear Agreement of 2008 marked a pivotal turning point in the relations between the two global powers, a partnership that has come to be recognized as one of the most consequential bilateral relationships of the 21st century. The groundbreaking agreement formally recognized India's right to retain its nuclear weapons option while placing its civilian nuclear infrastructure under the full-scope safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The accord helped reset the US–India relationship and provided a base of trust from which future leaders could work together. However, as important as the agreement was, it was not a fait accompli. There were dozens of moments when it could have fallen apart. Bringing together reflections from key decision-makers, this is the first comprehensive account of the motivations and processes that led up to the path-breaking accord. This volume includes original essays from prominent scholars and analysts on various aspects of the agreement—outlining how it has (or has not) lived up to its initial promises—as well as the future of US–India cooperation. Readers are given a simultaneously intimate and wide-ranging view of what is considered a genuine masterclass in diplomatic relations.
"Full of details on the painstaking process to achieve the historic U.S.–India civil nuclear agreement, this compendium of articles by leading experts—including former government officials directly involved in the negotiations—provides a rich contribution to academic and public policy research on India, its nuclear policies, and the deal's implications for the global nonproliferation regime."
—Lisa Curtis, Center for a New American Security
"Past and future meet in The US–India Nuclear Accord, a compelling examination of the politics and strategic implications of the landmark agreement. Negotiators provide behind-the-scenes insights into the controversial rebuilding of US–India nuclear relations, and top experts assess the agreement and its impact on nuclear politics and strategic behavior in South Asia and beyond."—Lisa Koch, Claremont McKenna College
"The 2008 US-India civil nuclear agreementis a landmark event with complex implications for Indo-US relations as well as nuclear strategy and global security. Šumit Ganguly and Dinsha Mistree provide a kaleidoscope of expert scholars and practitioners from both countries to analyze how the agreement came together and the important facets it continues to have to this day."
—Alexander Lennon, George Washington University
