On July 18, 2025, the US-India civil nuclear agreement will mark its 20th anniversary—an epochal milestone in bilateral relations that catalysed a strategic shift in the global nuclear order. Inked during the George W. Bush-Manmohan Singh era, the deal broke India’s pariah status in the global nuclear regime, acknowledged it as a responsible nuclear power outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and reshaped global geopolitics.

Two decades later, it is imperative to assess its long-term significance, unfinished agenda, and the roadmap both nations must craft in an increasingly volatile Indo-Pacific.

Looking Ahead: A Blueprint for the Next 20 Years. As the US-India nuclear deal enters its third decade, the future strategy must be informed by both its successes and its limits. The world has moved on—climate concerns, tech warfare, and Indo-Pacific instability have replaced 2005’s focus on nuclear legitimacy.

1st. Reviving nuclear energy cooperation:

Both governments must address liability concerns. India can consider a risk pool mechanism or indemnity model that protects suppliers without diluting accountability. The Westinghouse Kovvada project in Andhra Pradesh and NPCIL-GE Hitachi reactor plans must be fast-tracked.

2nd. Joint R&D in advanced nuclear technologies:

The US and India must move beyond traditional reactors. Small modular reactors (SMRs), thorium-based designs, and fusion research could be new frontiers. India’s work on thorium and the US expertise in modular design make for a natural synergy.

3rd. Institutionalizing strategic dialogues:

A dedicated US-India Nuclear and Energy Security Dialogue should be created with cabinet-level oversight, integrating civilian nuclear, defense nuclear deterrence issues, non-proliferation coordination, and emerging threats like nuclear terrorism or cyberattacks on reactors.

4th. Leveraging nuclear diplomacy:

India can be a bridge between the West and the Global South on nuclear disarmament and climate-aligned energy. The US should........

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