NEW DELHI: Rekindling the country’s hopes, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is set to meet again later this year, especially to discuss India’s entry into the 48-nation grouping.
The meet, which was scheduled for sometime next year, is being called this year itself as per a proposal from Mexico to look into the criteria for allowing non-NPT signatories like India into the group, diplomatic sources said.
China, which stalled India’s bid to get entry at the plenary meeting which ended in Seoul last Friday, was not in favour of a second round of meeting but Mexico’s suggestion found support from a large number of countries, including the US.
A panel for informal consultations on India’s NSG membership has also been set up by the group and it will be headed by Argentine ambassador Rafael Grossi, the sources added. As India’s failure to make it into the NSG came as a big setback despite lots of diplomatic parleys and a secret trip to Beijing by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, the US kept the hopes alive, saying after the Seoul plenary that they were confident that they had got a “path forward” for India’s acceptance as an NSG member by the end of the calendar year.
The latest development comes as India is set to become a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) — one of the four export control regimes of which Delhi has been aspiring to become a member.
The Foreign Secretary will sign the instrument of accession into the MTCR on Monday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said here.
MTCR membership will enable India buy high-end missile technology, enhance joint ventures and help it become a significant arms exporter. China is not a member of this group.