The US-India Nuclear Accord: History, Analysis, and Reflections

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.