{
"authors": [],
"type": "pressRelease",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"collections": [
"U.S. Nuclear Policy"
],
"englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "NPP",
"programs": [
"Nuclear Policy",
"South Asia",
"Middle East"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"North America",
"United States",
"Middle East",
"Iran"
],
"topics": [
"Foreign Policy",
"Nuclear Policy"
]
}
REQUIRED IMAGE
For Immediate Release: June 27, 2006
Contact: Jennifer Linker, +1 (202) 939-2372, jlinker@CarnegieEndowment.org
Tellis Analyzes Exaggerated Threat of Expanding Indian Nuclear Arsenal
New Report Refutes Assumptions Underlying Claims of Rapidly Expanding Nuke Stockpile
Among the most serious criticisms leveled at the U.S.-Indian nuclear cooperation initiative is that it would enable India to rapidly expand its nuclear arsenal. Ashley J. Tellis, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, challenges these criticisms in a new report, Atoms for War? U.S.-Indian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation and India’s Nuclear Arsenal. Tellis argues that, contrary to current assumptions, India is not trying to construct the largest nuclear stockpile possible in South Asia, nor is its capacity to produce a large nuclear arsenal affected by the U.S.-Indian civilian nuclear agreement.
Tellis asserts that the evidence shows that the government of India is in no hurry to build the biggest nuclear stockpile it could construct based on material factors alone. The research in this report concludes that India already has the indigenous reserves of natural uranium necessary to develop the largest possible nuclear arsenal it may seek and, consequently, the U.S.-Indian civilian nuclear cooperation initiative will not materially contribute towards New Delhi's strategic capacities in any consequential way. Furthermore, that the current shortage of natural uranium in India is caused principally by constrictions in its mining and milling capacity but this is a transient problem that is in the process of being redressed.
Tellis also gives seven critical reasons why New Delhi views the U.S.-Indian nuclear cooperation agreement as vital to ensuring India’s energy security, and how it provides meaningful technical alternatives to Homi Bhabha’s “three-stage plan.”
To access a PDF file of the report, go to: www.CarnegieEndowment.org/AtomsforWar.
Ashley J. Tellis is a senior associate specializing in international security, defense, and Asian strategic issues at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He is the co-editor of Strategic Asia 2005-06: Military Modernization in an Era of Uncertainty. He is also author of the Carnegie Report India as a New Global Power: An Action Agenda for the United States.
Press Contact:
Jennifer Linker, Tel: 202/939-2372, jlinker@CarnegieEndowment.org
###
Carnegie India does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
India and the United States are close to concluding a Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement (RDPA) that will allow firms from the two countries to sell to each other’s defense establishments more easily. While this may not remedy the specific grievances both sides may have regarding larger bilateral issues, an RDPA could restore some momentum, following the trade deal announcement.
Konark Bhandari
On the last day of the India AI Impact Summit, India signed Pax Silica, a U.S.-led declaration seemingly focused on semiconductors. While India’s accession to the same was not entirely unforeseen, becoming a signatory nation this quickly was not on the cards either.
Konark Bhandari
This piece examines India’s response to U.S. sanctions and tariffs, specifically assessing the immediate market consequences, such as alterations in import costs, and the broader strategic implications for India’s energy security and foreign policy orientation.
Vrinda Sahai
On July 30, 2025, the United States announced 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods. While diplomatic tensions simmered on the trade front, a cosmic calm prevailed at the Sriharikota launch range. Officials from NASA and ISRO were preparing to launch an engineering marvel into space—the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), marking a significant milestone in the India-U.S. bilateral partnership.
Tejas Bharadwaj
The India-U.S. relationship currently appears buffeted between three “Ts”—TRUST, Tariffs, and Trump.
Arun K. Singh