The Hindu Business Line : Nuclear spin

Moscow's announcement that it will supply enriched uranium to the Tarapur reactors is one of those developments that fall into the category of diplomatic masterstrokes which nations have been habitually delivering at each other through the ages.

On the face of it, it would appear that Moscow is taking full advantage of the civilian nuclear understanding arrived at by New Delhi and Washington to increase its clout with the former. Of course, there is one report which says that President Bush was aware of the Russian intention "before his visit to India", the inference being that Washington knew that Moscow would take advantage of its deal with New Delhi regarding supply of fuel to Tarapur.

If this correct, it is a bit intriguing that the Americans did not make any specific progress on the Tarapur fuel supply issue knowing full well that the Russians had plans to step in, which would make a big impact on Indians generally. It is possible that Washington had planned to bargain stiffly later on the Tarapur issue. But with the Russians taking the initiative in this specific sphere, it has been robbed of this initiative.

More importantly, Moscow's step may make the passage of the amendment of the US Atomic Energy Act even more problematic than it already promises to be. Among other things, one wonders what impact Moscow's finessed Tarapur fuel-supply step will have on that section of opinion within the country which is staunchly opposed to the India-US nuclear understanding.

What is clearly beyond debate is that the republic has benefited by the Russian decision as far as the functioning of the Tarapur reactors are concerned.

If the Russian decision is a part of Washington's overall strategy to control India's nuclear programme, civilian and military, then of course Moscow step to supply fuel to Tarapur is against the nation's long and short-term interests. But is it?

Ranabir Ray Choudhury

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