Multilateral export control regimes on weapon trading

Multilateral export control regimes consists of four major international groups, all aim at controlling various types of weapon trading.

1. Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
2. The Australia Group is an informal group of countries to help member countries to identify those of their exports which need to be controlled so as not to contribute to the spread of chemical and biological weapons . It came into existence after the use of chemical weapons in Iraq in 1984.
3. The Wassenaar Arrangement focus primarily on the transparency of national export control regimes and not granting veto power to individual members over organizational decisions.Every six months member countries exchange information on deliveries of conventional arms to non wassenaar members that fall under eight broad weapons categories - battle tanks, armored combat vehicles (ACVs), large-caliber artillery, military aircraft/unmanned aerial vehicles, military and attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems, and small arms and light weapons.
4. The Missile Technology Control Regime is the fourth informal and voluntary partnership between 34 countries to prevent the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of carrying a 500 kg payload to at least 300 km.

Why about MECRs
Memberships to MECRs was a burning topic in the strategic dialogue between India and US this week. India is looking forward for the membership in all the four Multilateral export control regimes. India's priority is membership of the NSG and the MTCR, while the U.S. would prefer India acceding first to the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement.

About U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue
The work of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue culminates in biannual, reciprocal government visits and joint roundtables in Washington and New Delhi. For each session, 15 to 20 delegation members from each country take part. Delegation members have past senior-level policy making experience and hold high ranking positions in NGOs, academia, industry, and the media. Members of Congress and Indian Members of Parliament are also invited to join the delegations.

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