It's not for me to predict the outcome of the elections in India, nor to speculate about what impact this will have on relations between the United States and India. However, we look forward to working with whichever government emerges from India's elections. There is a wide range of issues which we plan to discuss with it, leading up to the President's visit to India later this year. We respect the right of every nation to determine its own national security needs, but it has long been our position that nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes in South Asia run counter to the hopes of the international community and can be destabilising. We have made that position clear, publicly and privately, for some time.
What is your position on the BJP's stated policy of testing the bomb?
We have long said that testing would have serious negative consequences. It would lead to an increase in tensions and an accelerated arms race, which would leave South Asia less secure than before it started. I would also point out that a test would automatically trigger a range of sanctions under US law.
Could there be some kind of deal struck between India and the US in which the US would ease some of the export restrictions on dual-use technology in return for India not testing any weapon?
I'd like to begin by pointing out that the US government licenses the export of tens of millions of dollars worth of high technology, dual use items and munitions to India every year. We approve the overwhelming majority of India's licence requests.
However, there are some restrictions on our export of dual use technology stemming from US law, linked to India's decision not to join almost all the other countries in the world in adhering to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We continue to urge India, as well as Pakistan, to exercise restraint in its nuclear and missile programmes.
We will continue to work with India to find ways to meet its legitimate security needs and technology requirements. We value our dialogue with the Indian government on these matters.
