US should jettison consensus if NSG stops deal: Blackwill

New Delhi, Septebmer 4: As the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal faced the threat of lack of consensus in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) owing to the opposition from countries — with strong nuclear non-proliferation lobbies at work — former US ambassador to India Robert D Blackwill told The Indian Express that the US should move for “abolition” of the consensus rule, if the deal does not get approved by consensus.

As per the rules, the NSG comprises 45 countries and it always decides by consensus on matters under its jurisdiction. Blackwill said: “In case the deal is blocked for lack of consensus in the NSG, the US should propose for abolition of the consensus rule, and prefer a two-thirds majority.”

The former envoy compared the present NSG rule to a “UN General Assembly with every member having the power to veto”. “I was involved in setting up of the NSG in the 1970s, when a dozen countries were members. At that point of time, nations who supplied nuclear materials were part of the NSG,” said Blackwill, who is in New Delhi to participate in a CII conference on Indo-US relations.

“Most of these NSG countries now are not nuclear suppliers. Niether they have any trade in nuclear technology nor do they have any faintest connection with India. But, in the current NSG, a country X in Europe can oppose the deal and go back to its 5 million people, even as they deprive India’s billion people of nuclear energy.”

“This is bizarre, as if someone from planet Venus comes and says that the Indo-US nuclear deal is not good for the world,” Blackwill, who is now a senior fellow with the Rand Corporation, a US-based non-profit think tank, said without naming any particular country.

He said “the nuclear suppliers are in favour of the deal”. The countries, which are holding up the consensus, are mainly Austria, Ireland and New Zealand. He, however, said if the NSG approved the nuclear deal with consensus, both the US and India should “claim victory and move on”.

Blackwill also said the letter, released by the US Congress’ Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, has “no legal or policy relevance to India, except as a communication between the executive and legislative branch of the US Administration. It produces no obligations to India. This correspondence is routine.” Blackwill, however, said whatever be the results at the final NSG meeting, the relationship between India and the US would not be affected.

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