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Australia's export of uranium to India. India has made an explicit decision not to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). As a member of the Nuclear
by femto 8y ago
Australia's export of uranium to India.
India has made an explicit decision not to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). As a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Australia is supposed to export only to countries that have signed the NPT. An exemption has been granted to India. This means India is receiving uranium from Australia, but its facilities are not subject to the full range of inspections required under the NPT. It's reasonable to assume that India will go as far as it can in its role as a non-signatory to the NPT.
Essentially India said "trust us", and Australia said "show us the money."
- beefman 8y agoIndia has been a nuclear power since 1974.
- femto 8y agoI guess you're right under the definition of proliferation being a new nation gaining nuclear weapons. I was thinking of proliferation, in the sense of their being more nuclear weapons, even if it doesn't involve a new nation.
- angry_octet 8y agoI don't see any reason why countries committed to nuclear non-proliferation should endeavour to make weapon production cheaper. In fact, they should have to decide between peaceful uses and weapons of mass destruction.
- angry_octet 8y agoNot only do we have low assurance that Australian uranium won't end up in weapons, but indigenous sources of uranium can now be dedicated 100% to weapons, instead of being shared with energy production. There is also the use of neutrons from 'energy uranium' being used to produce tritium from lithium-6, which is essential for producing fusion boosted and thermonuclear weapons. http://isis-online.org/isis-reports/detail/north-koreas-lithium-6-production-for-nuclear-weapons/10 http://isis-online.org/isis-reports/detail/north-koreas-lith...