Wassenaar Arrangement
The Wassenaar Arrangement was established in 1996 in Wassenaar (Netherlands) to promote transparency and greater accountability in the transfer of conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies, and to contribute to regional and international security and stability.
India has become the 42nd member of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), an organization overseeing regional and international security and excellent exports control.
India's credibility in the field of nuclear non-proliferation will increase even though India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) after its entry into this export control body.
Like the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), it is an organization over seeing the nuclear war. Its headquarters in Vienna The Wassenaar Regime promotes transparency in the transfer of conventional weapons and technology between member states.
Its members have to ensure that the transfer of nuclear technology is not misused and used to enhance military capabilities.
It also aims to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists.
Indigenous software was included in the Wassenaar system in 2013 that can be effectively used as a surveillance tool and deals with thwarting protective counter measures in cyberspace.
Hardware and software that help in obtaining information are also classified in this restricted category.
States Parties,through their national policies, endeavor to ensure that these items are not transferred to the development or enhancement of military capabilities.
India benefits from membership
Membership in the Wassenaar Arrangement will enable India to make a mark in the field of non-proliferation despite not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and India's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation will get global recognition.
The country's stature in the nuclear non-proliferation sector will increase as well as help acquire critical technologies. In particular,India will be able to acquire dual-use goods and technologies.Its membership is a strategic victory for India over rivals like China and Pakistan as both of these countries are not yet its members.India's claim to be included in the Nuclear Suppliers Group(NSG) and the Australia Group will also strengthen.
India had joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) group. Australia's entry into the grouping in the near future will help dispel doubts in some countries about India's attempt to enter the NSG.It is note worthy that since the nuclear deal with the US in 2008, India has been making efforts to gain membership of all major export control groups including NSG, MTCR, Australia Group and Wassenaar Arrangement. All four of these entities regulate the export of conventional, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and technology.
Disadvantages of membership
Some experts term these forums as a lobby, saying that by becoming a member of them, India may increase its reputation in the international community, but eventually it is closing its way to getting cutting-edge technology, because all these forums are in some- There are platforms to impose restrictions and controls in some way.
They believe that these forums serve the interests of developed countries. and deprive developing countries of modern technology through sanctions and controls. He says that the developed countries associated with these four forums prepare the rules at the international level. But they have to be followed by each member country.He also says that even if India becomes a member of any forum, developed countries have neither transferred state-of the art technology before nor will they now, as these require bilateral agreements, not multilateral agreements.
