NEW DELHI: January 1, 2023 will be a landmark day for India as it takes over the chairmanship of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) group. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be in Vienna, the WA headquarters, on the day.
“India assuming the chair of Wassenaar Arrangement attests to its commitment and credibility as a country committed to disarmament and prevention of misuse of dual use products and technologies which is a joint international effort to contain any negative fallout,” the ministry of external affairs said.
WA, a group of 42 countries, seeks to advance stability in the sale and transfer of materials and technologies that can be used to make nuclear and conventional weapons. In Austria, Jaishankar will meet Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg. This will be the first EAM-level visit from India to Austria in 27 years. Jaishankar will also visit Cyprus.