Obama backs India's NSG membership

India becomes member of missile control group, Modi thanks US Prez for support

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday supported India’s candidature for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as he discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ways to take bilateral ties to new heights. Modi is on a three-day visit at Obama’s invitation.

Addressing the media jointly with Modi after talks at the White House, Obama said, “As the world's two largest democracies and with strong bonds between peoples and businesses, scientific and educational communities, it is natural that the US and India deepen and broaden our partnership across the whole range of issues.”

The other issues discussed  included terrorism, clean energy, climate change, regional security and cyber security.

During his remarks to the media, Obama said they discussed progress made in the Civil Nuclear agreement.

“I indicated support to India being a part of NSG,” the US President said amidst opposition by China to such a move.

Obama underlined that India needs technology which is critical for its progress and prosperity. Modi later said, “I am thankful for the help and support that my friend President Obama has extended with regard to membership in MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) and NSG.”

After his seventh meeting with Obama since 2014, Modi said India and the US are working as friends and partners in leading the world, and to protect the legacy that “we both are proud of”.

MTCR membership

Diplomats with knowledge of the matter confirmed that members of MTCR, an international anti-proliferation grouping, have agreed to admit India. They said a deadline for members of the 34-nation group to object to India’s admission had expired on Monday without any raising objections.

Under this 'silent procedure', India's admission follows automatically, diplomats from four MTCR member nations told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Admission to the MTCR would open the way for India to buy high-end missile technology, also making more realistic its aspiration to buy surveillance drones. India makes a supersonic cruise missile, the Brahmos, in a joint venture with Russia that both countries hope to sell to third countries, a development that would make India a significant arms exporter for the first time.

Membership of the MTCR would require India to comply with rules such as a maximum missile range of 300 km (186 miles) that seek to prevent arms races from developing.

New Delhi has also applied to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a 48-nation club that governs trade in commercial nuclear technology and was originally set up in response to India's first atomic weapons test in 1974. Joining the NSG will be much more difficult because China is a member and has backed the membership aspirations of Pakistan, its ally and India's arch-rival. Still, the breakthrough on the MTCR will be welcomed in the US Congress, which Modi will address on Wednesday.

Modi and Obama also committed themselves to join the Paris climate change deal this year. "We discussed how we can, as quickly as possible bring the Paris agreement into force, how we can make sure that, how climate financing that is necessary for India to embark on the bold vision for solar energy and clean energy that PM Modi has laid out, can be accomplished," Obama said.

He said he and Obama would meet in September on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit (in China). Till that time, he hoped, they would be able to make progress in a number of areas, including the "dream of climate justice".