
What to know about the US-India nuclear deal
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order establishing a US-Indian nuclear deal, paving the way for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
The agreement aims to provide cheaper energy and lower emissions for the two countries.
Trump’s move comes as the US and India are battling over the construction and operation of new nuclear reactors in the United States, as well as nuclear plants in Pakistan and India.
India’s prime minister Narendra Modi said that he would sign the agreement as soon as he could.
The US has said it has made significant progress in the past few years in making the country energy independent and that the deal could pave the way to a US$6 trillion energy infrastructure.
Trump has been in the process of developing the plan since taking office in January.
The United States and India signed a memorandum of understanding in 2016 to pursue a nuclear deal.
The two sides signed a further memorandum of agreement in 2018 that has seen the two governments agree to cooperate on nuclear technology and energy.
The new deal comes just weeks after Trump signed an order to increase energy security in the country by increasing the amount of US-manufactured fuel that India can export to the US.
The energy department has previously estimated that US imports of fuel from India amount to more than $500 million a year.
The order signed by Trump also makes India a “major energy exporter” to the United State.
US-China ties China has been a key US ally in the Indo-Pacific region for decades, but relations have recently become tense after the Trump administration announced its intent to recognize the Beijing-backed Taiwan independence movement.
Trump, who has been criticised by India’s opposition for his isolationist stance, said he is also looking to build a strong relationship with China.
He said on Tuesday that he has reached out to the leaders of India and China to improve bilateral relations.