Author: David Brewster, ANU

The Fukushima nuclear crisis is likely to have some major consequences for India.

India has been on track to become one of the biggest users of nuclear power in the world. It currently has 11 nuclear plants in operation or under construction, totaling 7,500 MW of generation capacity, and has plans to increase its nuclear generation capacity to up to 64,000 MW by 2032. Read more…

Author: David Brewster, ANU

Bangladesh’s recent announcement of a deal with Russia to construct its first nuclear reactor marks a broadening of the nuclear gold rush in South Asia.

The latest deal is part of a big expansion of nuclear generation throughout the region. Read more…

Author: David Brewster, ANU

Russia’s recent nuclear deal with India places it in a leading position in the international gold rush to supply India’s huge nuclear power needs.

The deal, signed during Russian Prime Minister Putin’s visit to New Delhi last month, involves (according to which report you read) the supply by Russia of as many as 16-20 nuclear reactors to India. Russia is already building two nuclear reactors in southern India. To underline the relationship, Putin’s visit also included the announcement of a USD1.5 billion deal for the supply of 29 MiG-29K fighter aircrafts for use on India’s new Russian-supplied aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya. Read more…

Author: David Brewster, ANU

The report of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND) released in Tokyo on 15 December 2009 recommends the establishment of a parallel nuclear non-proliferation system for three non-NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) states: India, Pakistan and Israel. The report was jointly commissioned by Australia and Japan with the ostensible purpose of reinvigorating the international nuclear non-proliferation system that has come under severe stress in recent years. The proposals, if implemented, would provide a way of dealing with ‘rogue’ nuclear weapons states that are currently outside the formal system.

Putting aside the many potential benefits of these proposals for international nuclear non-proliferation, the ICNND proposals could also be of significant benefit in Australia’s and Japan’s relations with India. Read more…

Author: David Brewster

The recent imbroglio over the apparent endorsement by the United States of China’s strategic role in South Asia can only contribute to India’s increasing insecurities over China.  The official Sino-US joint statement which followed President Obama’s visit to China mid-November has infuriated New Delhi and raised legitimate questions about the US commitment to strategic partnership with India.

What incensed New Delhi was the apparent recognition by the United States of a strategic role for China in South Asia, including suggestions that it may play some sort of honest broker role between India and Pakistan.  Read more…