By: Azhar Azam
What is Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
Indian failed nuclear tests in 1974 wobbled the nuclear states showing them up that nuclear technology transferred for peaceful purposes could be misused, underscoring the importance to control exports of sensitive nuclear materials, equipment, and technology.
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was hence instituted to prevent such nuclear proliferation by restricting the sale of items used to make nuclear weapons.
The members of the NSG can transfer nuclear technology and export nuclear equipment and fissile material under the designated rules framework which foils nuclear arms spread, without impeding international nuclear trade and cooperation.
NSG Member Countries
Currently the regime, NSG, consists of 48-nuclear supplier countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic Of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.
Indian Bid to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
India comes into the limelight again in 2016 in nuclear-watch, this time for seeking the membership of NSG which would be considered in its plenary on June 20 in Seoul, Korea. Nonetheless, all the Indian diplomatic efforts would be traumatized as China is nearly surely to resist the Indian inclusion in the group. Other countries which are opposing Indian membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) are New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa, and Austria.
Opponents argue that granting membership to India would wind Pakistan up, an Indian rival and close Sino ally, and consequently might emasculate the efforts to aid non-proliferation by India to join the main club of countries controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology.
Though the US-led push has softened Indian insertion opponents but China is the sole major defy to keeping India out of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which was in fact created in reaction to Indian nuclear tests, stating nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) is central to NSG.
India has already been enjoying most of the benefits in NSG rules under 2008 exemption in its nuclear cooperation deal with Washington and has developed nuclear weapons without signing the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
India is however likely to join Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), restricts the exports of missile and delivery system, after summit between United States’ president Barrack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Established in 1987, it is a volunteer body of 34-countries and four “unilateral adherents” that follow its rules; Israel, Romania, Slovakia and Macedonia. The bloc confines members to control exports of missile technology and unmanned ariel vehicles (UAV) capable of chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks.
Indian interest to be part of MTCR is to buy UAVs, Reaper and Global Hawk from the United States which has only been sold to the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, United States is revisiting its drone export policy as Russia, China, and Israel are working on the same line of products.
India expecting China to bargain MTCR membership for support in NSG
China is yet to be granted the membership of MTCR and its 2004 application to join the club was denied over suspicious missile technology transfer to North Korea. Indian diplomats are now urging to offer China the MTCR membership in return of its support for India in Nuclear Suppliers Group.
China instead is supporting Pakistan that has also tabled a bid for membership for NSG rationalizing that Indian entrance to NSG will aggravate the nuclear arms race in the region. At the same time, United States’ inclination to India clearly demarcates new strategic, economic alliances across the world but "does India encompass the dilution to overtake China?" remains a million dollar question!
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India is seeking a regime membership (NSG) which was formed in response to its nuclear test in 1974 |
Indian failed nuclear tests in 1974 wobbled the nuclear states showing them up that nuclear technology transferred for peaceful purposes could be misused, underscoring the importance to control exports of sensitive nuclear materials, equipment, and technology.
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was hence instituted to prevent such nuclear proliferation by restricting the sale of items used to make nuclear weapons.
The members of the NSG can transfer nuclear technology and export nuclear equipment and fissile material under the designated rules framework which foils nuclear arms spread, without impeding international nuclear trade and cooperation.
NSG Member Countries
Currently the regime, NSG, consists of 48-nuclear supplier countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic Of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.
Indian Bid to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
India comes into the limelight again in 2016 in nuclear-watch, this time for seeking the membership of NSG which would be considered in its plenary on June 20 in Seoul, Korea. Nonetheless, all the Indian diplomatic efforts would be traumatized as China is nearly surely to resist the Indian inclusion in the group. Other countries which are opposing Indian membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) are New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa, and Austria.
Opponents argue that granting membership to India would wind Pakistan up, an Indian rival and close Sino ally, and consequently might emasculate the efforts to aid non-proliferation by India to join the main club of countries controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology.
Though the US-led push has softened Indian insertion opponents but China is the sole major defy to keeping India out of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which was in fact created in reaction to Indian nuclear tests, stating nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) is central to NSG.
A diplomat on the basis on anonymity said “by bringing India on board, it’s a slap in the face of entire non-proliferation regime”.
India has already been enjoying most of the benefits in NSG rules under 2008 exemption in its nuclear cooperation deal with Washington and has developed nuclear weapons without signing the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
India is however likely to join Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), restricts the exports of missile and delivery system, after summit between United States’ president Barrack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Established in 1987, it is a volunteer body of 34-countries and four “unilateral adherents” that follow its rules; Israel, Romania, Slovakia and Macedonia. The bloc confines members to control exports of missile technology and unmanned ariel vehicles (UAV) capable of chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks.
Indian interest to be part of MTCR is to buy UAVs, Reaper and Global Hawk from the United States which has only been sold to the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, United States is revisiting its drone export policy as Russia, China, and Israel are working on the same line of products.
India expecting China to bargain MTCR membership for support in NSG
China is yet to be granted the membership of MTCR and its 2004 application to join the club was denied over suspicious missile technology transfer to North Korea. Indian diplomats are now urging to offer China the MTCR membership in return of its support for India in Nuclear Suppliers Group.
China instead is supporting Pakistan that has also tabled a bid for membership for NSG rationalizing that Indian entrance to NSG will aggravate the nuclear arms race in the region. At the same time, United States’ inclination to India clearly demarcates new strategic, economic alliances across the world but "does India encompass the dilution to overtake China?" remains a million dollar question!