India could be accepted as a member in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) next week. One of the world’s top four non-proliferation regimes, the MTCR plenary will be held in Rotterdam, where the Indian application for membership will be considered. The 34-nation grouping takes decisions by consensus.
India had made a formal application for membership early this year and has worked closely with key countries, who have promised to support its membership. If India is accepted in the grouping, it would be a huge fillip to its missile and space programmes, even allowing it to export its own technology to member countries. In recent years, MTCR has even assumed oversight regarding non-proliferation of UAVs – ironically, Pakistan, not a member of MTCR, has developed its own drones, which it has recently used on its own people.
Accession to MTCR is one of the leftover tasks of the India-US nuclear deal. The US had promised to support India’s membership to Wassenaar Arrangement, Nuclear Suppliers Group and Australia Group, along with MTCR. Initially, Indian diplomatic push was to bundle its membership to all four. The Indian thinking then was India could leverage its candidature all at once rather than lobby separately for all four. However, that thinking underwent a change and the MEA decided to approach all four regimes separately.
It was originally believed that Australia Group would be the easiest to get into. But India still has to harmonise some of its controls on chemicals, etc, to make the cut. Instead the government has worked hard to harmonise its export control lists, called <g data-gr-id="28">SCOMET</g> with MTCR regulations. In March 2015, the Indian government put in a host of new items on the SCOMET list, which would need prior permission before exports and invite strict oversight by government agencies.