WASHINGTON: The US government has urged all members of the elite club to support New Delhi's long-pending application to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The Defence and State department released a joint report saying, “The US welcomed India's application to join the NSG and it continues to re-affirm that India is ready for the membership. The US has called on NSG members to support India's application.”
In the report, the Trump administration also re-affirmed its support for India's membership in the Australia Group and Wassenaar Arrangement as soon as India met each group's criteria. Submitted to the Congress as required under National Defence Authorisation Act, the report reveals that the US and India share a commitment to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. “Since 2010, the US has supported India's membership in the four multilateral export controls regimes- Wassenaar Arrangement, NSG, Australia Group, and the Missile Technology Control Regime- as India prepared to take the steps required for membership in each one,” it said.
The report said that the United States welcomed India as a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime and its subscription to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation in June 2016. It also notes that the future leadership of Defence Technology and Trade Initiative will consist of an individual with experience in defence acquisition and technology to reinforce and ensure the success of the US-India defence relationship.
The US defence industry has provided India with proposals for F-16 Block 70 and F A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft, the report said. “These proposals will help create and maintain jobs in both countries and demonstrate the depth of our commitment to defence cooperation,” it said. While India has garnered the support of a majority of the NSG members, China sticks to its stand that new members should sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, creating a hurdle in India's entry.
