India is all set to become a member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as it got the membership of the key anti-proliferation grouping. Diplomatic sources said there is no objection to India’s application for the membership of the MTCR as the deadline for the member countries to object to it expired on Monday.
They said, the plenary meeting of the 34-nation grouping will take place later this year in Seoul during which India will be formally inducted as a new member into the bloc. In as tweet, Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland Roald Naess said only some procedural formalities remain before India becomes a member of the MTCR.
Mr. Modi and Mr. Obama are committed themselves to join the Paris agreement on Climate Change this year, giving momentum to the international fight to curb global warming. Mr. Obama told reporters that they discussed how they can bring Paris agreement into force as quickly as possible. A joint statement issued by the two countries said that United States intends to ratify the agreement this year and India will also aim to do the same thing. The Paris agreement will take effect when at least 55 countries representing 55 per cent of global emissions ratify it.
Briefing media persons on the second day engagement of the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States, Foreign Secretary S Jaishanker said, both Mr. Modi and Mr. Obama had a constructive talk. Mr Jaishanker said, India and US have finalised a framework on cyber security. He also said that US has been supportive of India’s stand that the perpetrators of Pathankot terror attack should be brought to book.
Membership of MTCR will help India procure high-end missile technology and surveillance systems by leading manufacturers which are allowed to be accessed only by MTCR member countries. India had applied for MTCR membership last year and its application was under consideration as part of a silent procedure which ended yesterday without any objection from any country.
Ahead of crucial meeting on Nuclear Suppliers Group at Vienna, India received strong backing from US President Barack Obama on the issue of New Delhi’s entry into the NSG and Missile Technology Control Resume (MTCR). After the talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington last night, Mr. Obama extended his country’s support to India’s bid for the NSG and the MTCR membership. Addressing the media after the talks, Mr. Modi thanked Mr. Obama for supporting India’s bid to the membership of MTCR and NSG.
The Prime Minister said, India and US have been cooperating on global issues such as nuclear security, global warming and terrorism. Mr. Modi said, India is working shoulder-to-shoulder with the US and will continue working together. On his part, President Obama said that the Indo-US cooperation will be helpful for developing countries. Mr. Obama said, India and US are the two largest democracies in the world and the cooperation between the two countries will be helpful for the entire globe.