NEW DELHI: In a significant victory for India's non-proliferation track record, elite export control regime Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) on Thursday decided to admit India as its new member, helping it acquire critical technologies.
The decision was taken at the two-day (Wednesday & Thursday) plenary meeting of the grouping in Vienna. India is now member two of the four export control regimes -- other being Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). ET had reported that India could soon enter this arrangement.
“Wassenaar Arrangement participating states reviewed the progress of a number of current membership applications and agreed at the plenary meeting to admit India which will become the Arrangement’s 42nd participating state as soon as the necessary procedural arrangements for joining the WA are completed,” the grouping said in a statement.
India’s entry into the export control regime would enhance its credentials in the field of non-proliferation despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The WA membership is also expected to build up a strong case for India’s entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). China, which has been stonewalling India’s entry into the 48-nation NSG is not a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement. It is also not a member of MTCR.
The Wassenaar Arrangement plays a significant role in promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
Its member countries are required to ensure that transfers of these items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities which undermine these goals. The aim is also to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists, officials said.
Since its civil nuclear deal with the U.S. France and Russia, India has been trying to get into export control regimes such as the NSG, the MTCR, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement that regulate the conventional, nuclear, biological and chemicals weapons and technologies. India is also reported to be in advanced stage of entering Australia group.
Besides USA, Russia and France played key roles in ensuring India’s membership to Wassenaar Arrangement. French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler congratulated India on “joining” the Wassenaar Arrangement. “One more recognition, after MTCR, of the growing role India plays in today’s world,” he said. India joined MTCR, another key export control regime, as a full member in 2016.
On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister who visited Delhi for talks with Indian Foreign Secretary exuded confidence that India will be admitted into Wassenaar arrangement in the session in Vienna.
"India would like to thank each of the forty-one WA Participating States for their support for India’s membership. We would also like to thank Ambassador Jean Louis Falconi of France, 2017 Plenary Chair of the WA for his role in facilitating India’s accession to the Arrangement. India also notes the valuable contribution of Japan and France as co-rapporteurs, and Ambassador Philip Griffiths, Head of WA Secretariat, for their guidance during the preparatory process. India’s entry into the Arrangement would be mutually beneficial and further contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives," MEA said in a statement after WA decision.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com