Ahead of India-US Strategic Dialogue next week, America once again endorsed India's NSG bid.
In a significant endorsement of India's claim to a seat at the Nuclear Suppliers Group high table, the Obama administration promised to "work with other members of the NSG" to allow India into the nuclear trading bloc.
President Barack Obama believes that the time has come for the NSG to take up the matter of India's membership said a senior American official today. Details of a new roadmap are likely to be discussed during the visit of United States Secretary John Kerry who will be in New Delhi next week.
"We continue to work with our Indian colleagues on the way forward and continue to work with other members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group" a senior official with the United States State Department said today.
The American official also added that President Obama has been "very clear and very definitive" that India has met all requirements for membership in the NSG.
"He (President Barack Obama) believes that the time has come for the NSG to take up the case of India's membership," the State Department official said.
In June, despite strong backing by the United States, the NSG plenary meeting in Seoul ended without a decision on India's membership. According to reports, it was China which scuttled India's bid despite a majority of countries backing India's claim.
After the Seoul plenary meeting, the United States had expressed "regret" at being unsuccessful in making India a member of the nuclear bloc.
"We regret, in Seoul we and India, were unable to open space necessary to allow India to move into the NSG at this moment. We understand that in a consensus based organisation one country can break consensus. But in order to do it must be (held) accountable, not isolated," United States Undersecretary for Political Affairs Tom Shannon had said.