New Delhi: After joining two export control regimes — the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Wassenaar Arrangement in the past two years, India on Friday joined yet another export control regime, the Australia Group (AG) which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.
India will be the Australia Group’s 43rd member-nation. The developments on Friday have come as yet another boost to India’s claim to join the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group even as China continues to play spoilsport there. But the Indian entry has once again showcased the strong support of the United States.
New Delhi said, “India’s entry into the group would be mutually beneficial and further contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives,” adding that the current technology will “help in establishing India’s credentials further”.
It may be recalled that India had joined the WA just one and a half months ago while it had joined the MTCR in 2016. In a statement, the ministry of external affairs said, “India has joined the Australia Group (AG) on January 19, 2018, following the completion of internal procedures for joining the group. The Australia Group decided to admit India as the group’s 43rd participant through a consensus decision. India would like to thank each of the AG participants for their support for India’s membership.”
“We would also like to thank ambassador Jane Hardy of Australia, former chair of the Australia Group, for her role in facilitating India’s accession to the Group. India’s entry into the group would be mutually beneficial and further contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives,” the statement further said.
