India becomes 35th nation to join Missile Technology Control Regime

India has become a member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on Monday, Ministry of External Affairs said. China, which blocked India's entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) last week isn't a member of this important regime. 

MEA said, "The MTCR Point of Contact in Paris has granted the decision regarding India’s accession to the regime through the Embassy of France in New Delhi as well as the Embassies of The Netherlands and Luxembourg."

During the MTCR joining ceremony, India mentioned gratitude to each of the thirty-four MTCR Partners for their support in the membership. India also appreciated Ambassador Pieter de Klerk of The Netherlands and Robert Steinmetz of Luxembourg, co-Chairs of the MTCR, for facilitating India’s accession to the regime.

Missile Technology Control Regime ('MTCR' ) is an informal and voluntary partnership among 35 countries to prevent  the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of carrying  a 500 kg payload for at least 300 km. 

India’s entry into the regime as its thirty-fifth member would be mutually beneficial in the furtherance of international non-proliferation objectives.

The entry to MTCR membership got even more strong, when India agreed to join the Hague Code of Conduct, dealing with the ballistic missile non-proliferation arrangement, earlier this month.

India has been initiating to get into export control regimes like NSG, MTCR, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement that regulate the conventional, nuclear, biological and chemicals weapons and technologies.

However, on 24 June 2016,  India faced failure in getting NSG membership due to rigid opposition by China since last year. 

Bolstering the non-proliferation agenda! In a signal move, India joins the Missile Technology Control Regime today pic.twitter.com/RrEUwxOgOV

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 27, 2016