US pursuing Indian arms deals in return for nuclear 'waiver'

The Irish Times
Sep 16, 2008

NEW DELHI: THE US is looking to secure defence contracts with India worth billions of dollars in return for its support in helping the country secure a nuclear waiver earlier this month which ends its 34-year-old global isolation while retaining its strategic weapons capability. US officials have indicated that Washington expects "reciprocity" in weapons purchases and enhanced strategic ties for helping India secure the one-off waiver earlier this month from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group that controls nuclear trade worldwide. "I would expect our [joint] capacity to move forward in complex areas," said David Mulford, the US ambassador to Delhi, last week. Establishing civil nuclear ties will doubtlessly have a "positive knock-on" effect on defence and related sensitive matters, he added.