Wassenaar Arrangement

Why in news?

• On 26th annual plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement in Vienna, Ireland handed over the chairmanship to India and India will officially assume the chairmanship from 1st January, 2023

About Wassenaar Arrangement:

• The Wassenaar Arrangement is a voluntary export control regime.
• The Arrangement, formally established in 1996, has 42 members who exchange information on transfers of conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies.
  • Dual-use refers to the ability of a good or technology to be used for multiple purposes - usually peaceful and military.
• Wassenaar Arrangement’s Secretariat is in Vienna, Austria.

Members:

• 42 member states are mostly NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and EU states.
• Participating States are required to report their arms transfers and transfers/denials of certain dual-use goods and technologies to destinations outside the Arrangement on a six-monthly basis.
• India became a member of the Arrangement in 2017.

Objectives:

• The group works by regularly exchanging information in respect of technology, both conventional and nuclear-capable, that is sold to, or denied to countries outside the grouping.
• This is done through maintenance and updating of detailed lists of chemicals, technologies, processes and products that are considered militarily significant.
• It aims at controlling the movement of technology, material or components to countries or entities which undermine international security and stability.

Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary:

• It is the decision-making body of the Arrangement.
• It is composed of representatives of all Participating States and normally meets once a year.
• The position of Plenary Chair is subject to annual rotation among Participating States.
• All Plenary decisions are taken by consensus.

Other Multilateral Export Control Regimes:

• Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), for the control of nuclear related technology.
• The Australia Group (AG) for control of chemical and biological technology that could be weaponized.
• The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) for the control of rockets and other aerial vehicles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.
• India is a member in all except NSG.

PRACTICE QUESTION

India is a member in which of the following Multilateral Export Control Regimes?

1. Nuclear Suppliers Group

2. Wassenaar Arrangement

3. Missile Technology Control Regime

4. Australia Group

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 4  only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2,3 and 4 only

(d) 1,2,3 and 4

Answer