What are the respective obligations of the partner countries taking membership of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassennar Arrangement and Australia Group? Explain while commenting on significance of India's partnership in these regimes.
MTCR
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. MTCR aims to control the delivery systems of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. It encourages members not to export missiles or technology which is capable of delivering any weapon of mass destruction, with special focus on missiles capable of carrying a 500-kg payload over 300 km or more.
Members’ obligations
MTCR members are required to establish national export control policies for ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, space launch vehicles, drones, remotely piloted vehicles, sounding rockets, their components and technologies and restricts the spread of weapons and technology.
Australia Group
Australia Group is an informal forum of countries which seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.
Members’ obligations
Australia Group members commit to prevent spread of Chemical, Biological, Weapons proliferation being a manufacturer/exporter/trans-shipper of Australia group controlled items and having an effective export control system with legal penalties and sanctions built in.
Wassennar Arrangement
Wassennar Arrangement aims to promote transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies to ensure there are no destabilising accumulations and terrorists do not acquire them.
Members’ obligation
Wassennar Arrangement requires participating states to apply export controls to all items in the Wassenaar Control List and the Munitions List.
Significance of these memberships to India
- Recognition of India as a legitimate nuclear power.
- Access to sensitive technology, equipments and sophisticated machineries which will aid India’s make in India programme.
- Growing acceptance of India as a responsible nuclear power and a super power.
- Spillover effects will aid in indigenization of defence production
The membership is the testimony of world’s acknowledgment of India as a key global player.