Next week will mark the three year anniversary of the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush that laid the groundwork for a proposed nuclear energy agreement.

Today Communist factions of the ruling Indian coalition abandoned Singh's party to protest the deal, threatening both his administration and joint US/Indian nuclear development.

Despite rabid opposition from his own side of the aisle, Singh has signaled continued commitment to the deal -with rampant inflation driven by higher oil and coal costs his administration is under tremendous pressure to find meaningful energy solutions. It remains to be seen if he can actually get the deal done, a process that will require additional approval from the IAEA, NSG and the US congress.
  • Andrew Barber Director Research Edge, LLC