US Lifts Restrictions on Key Indian Nuclear Entities to Enhance Cooperation

The United States has announced the removal of three significant Indian entities from its list of restrictions preventing access to U.S. nuclear technology. The Indian Rare Earths, Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Center, and Bhabha Atomic Research Center can now engage more freely in nuclear cooperation, as shared by U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during a recent event in New Delhi.

This decision marks a pivotal step toward enhancing civil nuclear collaboration between India and the U.S., which has seen limited progress since the Civil Nuclear Deal signed two decades ago. Sullivan emphasized the importance of overcoming historical frictions and creating new opportunities for previously restricted entities.

The move comes as part of a broader strategy to strengthen bilateral ties, with more than 200 Indian entities having faced restrictions since India's nuclear tests in 1998. Over the years, many have been removed from the list, reflecting the evolving relations between the two nations. In 2019, India and the U.S. also agreed to collaborate on constructing six U.S. nuclear power plants within India.

The formalities for lifting these restrictions are expected to be completed soon, paving the way for enhanced nuclear partnerships.