Nuclear Suppliers Group plenary: Little movement since 2008 'relationship with India' talks

The United States on Monday asked the members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to consider and support India’s application to join the grouping during their plenary meeting in Seoul beginning on Tuesday. This came a day after China’s statement that India’s inclusion into the group was not even on the agenda of the group’s meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been actively pushing this issue with other countries. During his five nation tour, he secured Switzerland’s promise to support India’s application for its entry into the NSG. [caption id=“attachment_2846922” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image of nuclear power plant. Getty Images[/caption] “Switzerland welcomes an Indian contribution to the non-proliferation of nuclear arms,” said the President of the Swiss Confederation Johann Schneider-Ammann. During his trip to Mexico, he secured the country’s support for the same as well. “Mexico recognises India’s bid to be part of the NSG. As a country, we are going to be positively and constructively supporting India’s request in recognition of the commitment by Prime Minister Modi to the international agenda of disarmament and non proliferation of nuclear weapons,” Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said. British Prime Minister David Cameron too assured Modi of UK’s “firm support” for India’s NSG membership. While the plenary meeting in Seoul will decide the fate of the country, let’s look at the progress made since 2008 when India’s application was considered for the first time. According to its public statement, the Nuclear Suppliers Group met in Vienna on 21 and 22 August to discuss civil nuclear cooperation with India. The participating countries agreed to continue their deliberations. The International Atomic Energy Agency released the “ Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with India” adopted by the NSG. According to this, the participating governments had taken note of India’s efforts and voluntary steps taken in the direction of becoming a member of NSG. It further said, “With a view to intensification of dialogue and cooperation with India, the Chairman is requested to confer and consult with India….” The NSG plenary meeting 2009 hosted in Budapest too said that the “plenary addressed the regular reporting and consultation requirements under the group’s 6 September 2008 Statement on civil nuclear cooperation with India, bearing in mind India’s voluntary commitments and actions.” The public statement released after the 2010 NSG meeting held in Christchurch said “The Group continued to consider the implementation of the Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with India. It noted actions taken to adhere to the NSG guidelines and the voluntary commitments made by India.” Interestingly, the 2011 meeting in Noordwijk too considered “all aspects of the implementation of the 2008 Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with India and discussed the NSG relationship with India.” There appeared to be very little movement in the following years: 2012, Nuclear Suppliers Group Plenary, Seattle: continued to consider all aspects of the implementation of the 2008 Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with India and discussed the NSG relationship with India. 2013, Nuclear Suppliers Group Plenary, Prague: Continued to consider all aspects of the implementation of the 2008 Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with India and discussed the NSG relationship with India. 2014, Nuclear Suppliers Group Plenary, Buenos Aires: Shared information on all aspects of the 2008 Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with India and discussed the NSG relationship with India. 2015, Nuclear Suppliers Group Plenary, Bariloche: Shared information on all aspects of the 2008 Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with India and discussed the NSG relationship with India. Considering that the only development has been deliberations and more deliberations, it remains to be seen if the Nuclear Suppliers Group Plenary, 2016 in Seoul will end in the same manner. Or will Modi’s international outreach finally see India becoming a member of the NSG?