India and Mexico would deepen their cooperation on various projects, including science and space technology, said PM Modi on Wednesday here during his visit to Mexico. India has been pushing for membership of the bloc for last few years and had formally moved its application on May 12.
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India’s diplomatic efforts to gain entry to the exclusive Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) appear to be gaining traction after it bagged crucial support from Switzerland and Mexico, two countries that had reservations on India’s membership to the 48-member club.
Nevertheless, Obama called on governments participating in the NSG to support India’s application to the group when it meets later this month in Seoul, South Korea.
As a country, we are going to be positively and constructively supporting Indias request in recognition of the commitment by Prime Minister Modi to the worldwide agenda of disarmament and non proliferation of nuclear weapons, Nieto said at a joint media interaction with Modi. Pakistan has also applied for the membership of NSG but the United States is supporting India openly.
Narendra Modi is the Indian prime minister and the 14th to hold this august office since India became free in 194.
He said that any decision on Pakistan’s inclusion in NSG will be made by consensus at meeting in Vienna, while confirming that U.S. fully backs NSG membership for India.
The NSG works on some principles, and even if one country votes against India, it might be a reason to worry for India.
Both groups would give India greater access to research and technology, but China has so far blocked India´s accession to the NSG.
In 2008, India got a special waiver from the NSG with the help of the USA for their bilateral civilian nuclear deal. It was restored when Modi became prime minister.
Modi also quoted renowned author Octavio Paz. Regardless of what may be the end-result in terms of membership at NSG, it is certain that India’s bilateral ties with these countries would reach new heights, FCCI said. “More importantly, India wants to help prevent the proliferation of weapons that has been going on around in the region”, said Reshmi Kazi, an associate fellow with the New Delhi-based Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses.
This view was boosted by the fact that several other member countries, which had been opposing India’s membership bid, softened their stand in Vienna and indicated their readiness for a compromise. Discussions with the two bodies are underway.
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“With your sense of humour and the way you delivered that speech, I think really identifies why we have such close ties”, Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations committee said as he welcomed Modi during a congressional reception hosted in his honour.
