U.S. reaches deal to provide Vietnam civilian nuclear power

By Indira A.R. Lakshmanan and David Lerman, Bloomberg News

The U.S. reached an agreement to sell nuclear fuel and technology to Vietnam in a move aimed at boosting its former adversary’s civilian nuclear program while curbing proliferation of atomic weapons.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry listens to an interpreter as he talks with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the 8th East Asia Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei on Oct. 10, 2013. Reuters

The agreement was initialed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Vietnam Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on the sidelines of an East Asia summit in Brunei today. It prohibits Vietnam from enriching or reprocessing plutonium or uranium while developing nuclear energy, according to a U.S. administration official who asked not to be identified, citing government policy.

The deal reflects warmer ties nearly 40 years since the end of the Vietnam War as the Obama administration counters China’s rising influence with a strategic rebalance toward Asia. The U.S. has also made nuclear nonproliferation a priority as it seeks to rein in atomic programs in Iran and North Korea.

“As we have seen in North Korea and Syria, the violation of the international nonproliferation regime breeds instability,” Kerry said in Brunei today. “We are working with partners around the world to reinforce the system of rules and norms that prevents the use and proliferation of these heinous weapons.”

Vietnam has contracts with Russia to build two nuclear power plants and with Japan for two more, according to the official. Under today’s agreement, U.S. companies will be allowed to export nuclear-related fuel, expertise, reactors and equipment for the Japanese plants or any future power plants Vietnam may need, the official said.

Read the full story by Indira A.R. Lakshmanan and David Lerman of Bloomberg News.