In response to Russia’s invasion of neighboring Georgia several weeks ago, the United States will likely scrap a US-Russia civilian nuclear cooperation pact.

A U.S. State Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the scrapping is “probably going to happen next week.”

“The president (George W. Bush) has to withdraw the document from Congress. So he needs to take that step, and that’s what will happen,” he said.

‘The agreement aims to allow US and Russian companies to form joint ventures in the nuclear sector and gives the go-ahead for exchanges of nuclear technology between the two countries, according to officials on both sides.’

Additionally, Russia would be able to ‘reprocess spent nuclear fuel originating in the United States, which accounts for most of the world market.’

When asked whether dropping the pact may make it harder for the U.S. to prevent nuclear knowledge from spreading the official said: “It’s hard to predict. But again we’ve made very clear that Russia’s behavior has to be condemned and there have to be consequences that flow from (its actions) in Georgia. This will be an example of that.”

“We want to work with Russia on a wide range of issues, but Russia has to show it’s interested in working with the international community,” he said.

“The fact there is a ceasefire …that they’re not adhering to is troubling to all of us and so we question just how closely we can work with Russia on a wide range of issues. And that’s why basically our relationship right now is being reviewed across the board.”

There has been much debate in the West about what the United States should do in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of a country focused on the West and trying to become a well functioning democracy. Many have argued that Russia’s invasion was not aimed at Georgia as such, but at what it represented; a former Soviet Republic turning to the West, opening up its markets for foreign goods and increasingly democratizing. Additionally, people were talking about it joining NATO.

Russia’s invasion, then, was meant to bully Georgia into obeying it. The message Moscow sent was crystal clear: do what we want, do what is in our interest, or we will destroy you.

Since the U.S. also has a vested interest in former Soviet Republics it could not let the bullying unanswered.