During his two-day visit to India, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced that the United States is taking steps to remove long-standing regulatory barriers preventing effective civil nuclear cooperation between India and the US. This move is expected to breathe new life into a landmark deal that has been in the works for over a decade. Sullivan revealed that the US is finalizing steps to enable cooperation between India’s nuclear agencies and US companies.

The civil nuclear cooperation deal between the two countries dates back to 2007, when President George W. Bush signed the agreement to allow the US to sell civilian nuclear technology to India. While progress has been made, challenges remain, particularly regarding India’s stringent nuclear liability rules. These laws require that the operator, not the manufacturer, bear the cost in case of accidents, which has been a deterrent for US companies interested in building nuclear power plants in India. Despite these challenges, the countries agreed in 2019 to build six US nuclear power plants in India, with an eye toward meeting India’s energy goals.

Sullivan’s visit comes at a time when the outgoing Biden administration is seeking to deepen US-India cooperation, not only in nuclear energy but also in areas like space, artificial intelligence, and military collaboration. The visit also set the stage for discussions on China-related concerns. Earlier, Sullivan met with India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who commended his personal efforts in strengthening the bilateral relationship.