India becomes 42nd member of Wassenaar Arrangement

Smita Sharma

tribune news service

New Delhi, December 8

In a boost to its nuclear non-proliferation credentials, India has been accepted as the 42nd member of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA). 

After its two-day plenary session in Vienna on December 6 and 7, the group said: “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.”

India has thanked each of the participating members for their support. “India's entry into the Arrangement would be mutually beneficial and further contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Formally known as the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies, the organisation was established in 1996. It is key to the global non-proliferation regime. While consensus is required for admission to a new state, India's membership pushed by the US did not hit the Great Wall of China here unlike in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), because Beijing is not a part of the Arrangement. Italy the sole dissenting voice following the diplomatic row over the marines' trial case came on board after recent reset of bilateral ties and the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India.

Last year, India acceded to the Missile Control Technology Regime and awaits entry to the Australia group, an informal export control grouping concerned with the non-proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. Asked if WA membership helps India’s push for NSG, the MEA said, “The two are not connected but when you join one it does prove your credentials.”

Russian deputy foreign minister Ryabkov said in Delhi this week that Moscow had been talking to Beijing about India's NSG membership, and now with the Wassenaar clearance, the issue might figure in talks next week.

US Ambassador Kenneth Juster congratulated India on Twitter, recalling he was involved in this process previously as under secretary of commerce.