India’s strained ties with Italy over the marines case, which started in February 2012, prevented consensus in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on New Delhi’s entry to the club. However Alphonsus Stoelinga, Ambassador of the Netherlands, said Italy should not be blamed for the delay and the age of “interdependence” ensured that India’s membership could not be delayed anymore.
“In this age, we have to help each other; India’s membership was anyway due, and the organisation had to extend membership to India as all other diplomatic and political factors worked in its favour,” he said.
Setting the stage for its role in the MTCR, India had joined The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation this summer.
Strategic affairs commentator Gurmeet Kanwal said: “Vietnam needs 300-km range BrahMos missile and under MTCR membership, India can legally provide such missiles to Vietnam.”
However, Mr. Stoelinga said the MTCR was a “control mechanism” which prevented missiles and delivery vehicles from falling into rogue hands. “The MTCR helps in controlling the spread of ballistic missiles and unmanned drones. India, like other 34 members of the regime, will have to abide by the rule book,” he said.
COMMents
SHARE