India's NSG admission depends on Obama's grit: Uday Bhaskar

With China indicating to oppose India's entry in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Defence expert Commodore (Retd.) C. Uday Bhaskar on Tuesday said Washington's support will be critical for New Delhi in this regard, adding it all depends on how US President Barack Obama overcomes domestic critiques and persuades other members.

Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar said if the US shows determination it is unlikely China would like to be singled out as the one country that opposes India.

"So, therefore, it is important to being Switzerland, Italy and Mexico on board. And I think Prime Minister Modi's visit is towards that end," he added.

Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar said the US support will be critical for New Delhi to be admitted in the NSG just as it was critical for India in late 2008 when the exceptional status was accorded to the country though it had not signed the NPT or Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"But I think this time, we have a very different kind of context which is China has indicated that they would not support India's admittance into the Nuclear Suppliers Group because they have linked India's membership with that of Pakistan which is not a valid proposition and many of the NSG members are quite uncomfortable and unhappy with China but yet because of China's profile they choose to be reticent," Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar told ANI.

"I think what is very critical for India and the Modi-Obama meeting will be the degree to which President Obama is able to expand American political and diplomatic capital to get India into the NSG. This will not be easy because even within the United States there is a divided opinion," he added.

Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar said on the eve of Prime Minister Modi's visit to the U.S., the New York Times had an editorial which reflected the views of the board.

"It's not the normal procedure when they want to emphasize something the NYT actually says by the editorial board. They also in that particular editorial do not support India's admission into the NSG," Commodore (Retd.) Bhaskar said.

"So which is why I thought that we should not presume that it is going to be an easy task. Both for President Obama and Prime Minister Modi, this will be a very major challenge," he added.

Prime Minister Modi yesterday succeeded in securing Switzerland's support for India's candidature for in the NSG.

"I am thankful to the President for Switzerland's understanding and support for India's membership of the NSG," he said in Geneva in a joint statement after Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann announced his country's support to India's membership in the elite group.

The US has pressed China on creating an industrial glut. However, Beijing has not responded well to the pressure.

According to reports, Chinese officials have said their stand on India's inclusion into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a 48-member club of nuclear trading nations, remains unchanged - it goes hand-in-hand with India signing the NPT (Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty), they said.