ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the prevailing nuclear environment and explores how best to manage it. It examines a potential role for all nuclear weapon countries and a selected few non-nuclear or threshold states, to evolve a workable, non-discriminatory safety regime, which will ultimately lead to complete and total disarmament. The motive for acquiring nuclear weapons by every nation has been due primarily to the belief that a nuclear weapon gives power, status, deterrence, and security. The security situation is further complicated by each nuclear weapon state having its own brand of nuclear doctrine, which in turn can give rise to serious misunderstandings and lead to dangerous situations. The civil nuclear agreement between India and the United States is a clever piece of diplomatic skill and engineering where both sides feel that they have won. The main criticism seems to be that India is being let off the hook and being treated as very special in the eyes of the United States.
