Congressional Statements

Cornyn Highlights Importance of US-India Relations

Emphasizes civil nuclear cooperation agreement as way to serve interests of both U.S. and India

Remarks on floor of the Senate
November 9, 2005

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, founder and cochairman of the Senate India Caucus, made the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding the civil nuclear cooperation agreement and its importance for national security and U.S.-India relations:

Mr. President, I thank the distinguished chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the distinguished ranking member for this accommodation. This is an important matter that does relate directly to our national security and that has to do with the remarkable progress that United States-India relations have made over the last several years and the path that lies ahead.

As my colleagues know, Prime Minister Singh visited Washington in July for a historic state visit. This event marked a critical milestone in our improving relationship, but the Congress needs to help ensure that this relationship reaches its full potential. President Bush has made it a fundamental foreign policy objective to move United States-India relations to a new level and plans to visit India in the near future.

India is the world’s largest democracy, and our two great nations share many common values and common beliefs. It is only appropriate, then, that the United States and India become true strategic partners as we move into the 21st century. Fortunately, the days of the Cold War when the United States and India were at odds are long past. Today, the United States and India share a common vision for the future as we battle terrorism together and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS, and a host of other challenges that face our world.

The United States is fortunate to have many Indian Americans who have helped bring our two nations closer together. There are 2 million people of Indian origin in the United States, approximately, many of whom are now U.S. citizens. There are about 200,000 Indian Americans in my State of Texas alone. Nearly 80,000 Indian students are studying in our Nation’s colleges and universities. Their contributions to our Nation and our relationship have been remarkably positive.

I will spend just a moment talking about an important agreement that was reached last July between President Bush and Prime Minister Singh that will require congressional approval to implement. This agreement, known as the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative, will help India with its energy needs and help bring India into the mainstream of international nuclear nonproliferation efforts, both of which are worthwhile goals.

While it is true that the agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is a significant departure from previous U.S. policy, still it represents a positive step as we grow in our strategic relationship with the nation of India. For more than 30 years, the United States and India have disagreed over India’s decision not to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. As such, the United States has not cooperated with India on the issue of civilian nuclear power.

In short, we have been at a stalemate, which has neither served our nonproliferation goals nor helped India’s need for energy resources. Fortunately, a civil nuclear cooperation agreement will allow us to move forward in a way that serves both the interests of the United States and the interests of India.

In order to implement this agreement, Congress will need to approve. The fundamental question before Congress will be why should we allow civilian nuclear cooperation with India when they refuse to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? And will we not be somehow undermining our own nonproliferation efforts?

The fact is this agreement will enhance our nonproliferation efforts. It is correct that India is not a signatory to the NPT. They have decided, for their own national security reasons, that they will not become a party to the treaty, and no amount of international pressure, persuasion, or cajoling will convince them to do otherwise. This is a reality which we face, but the status quo for another 30 years is not acceptable either.

Recognizing this reality, we must ask ourselves what we can do to promote nonproliferation efforts with India and bring them within the international nonproliferation regime. The civil nuclear cooperation agreement provides the answer. Despite not signing the NPT, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, India has an excellent nonproliferation record. They understand the danger of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and that is why India has agreed to adhere to key international nonproliferation efforts on top of their own stringent export control regime.

This is a significant step forward, which has been welcomed by the International Atomic Energy Agency Director, Mohamed El-Baradei, who understands that India will not come into the NPT through the normal route. This agreement brings India’s growing civilian nuclear capabilities within international export control regimes. India will now assume the same nonproliferation responsibilities that other nations have with civil nuclear energy. Specifically, India has agreed to identify and separate civilian and military nuclear facilities and programs and file with the IAEA a declaration with regard to its civilian facilities. It has agreed to place voluntarily its civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. It has agreed to sign and adhere to an additional protocol with respect to civilian nuclear facilities. And it has agreed to continue its unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing.

Furthermore, it has agreed to work with the United States for the conclusion of a multilateral fissile material cutoff treaty. It has agreed to refrain from the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies to states that do not have them and support efforts to limit their spread.

Finally, India has agreed to secure nuclear materials and technology through comprehensive export control legislation and adherence to the Missile Technology Control and Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Each of these commitments represents a positive step forward. India, which is no stranger to international terrorism itself, is motivated by its own security needs to fight proliferation of nuclear weapons. The same is true of the United States. Both nations, as well, are dependent on oil imports to satisfy the needs of their economies and to create jobs for their people. Both nations, therefore, see in civilian nuclear energy cooperation an opportunity to satisfy these growing energy needs without environmental hazards of relying solely on fossil fuels. In short, this agreement is important to our growing international strategic partnership and for India’s domestic energy needs.

Although the administration’s negotiations with the Indians are ongoing regarding the implementation of these commitments, I am confident that we are on the right track. I look forward to the role that Congress will play in this important process.