As Mexico is a member of NSG, so its support for India is also very important.
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When it became obvious that China will not allow India to join the NSG on Thursday afternoon, a spokesman for the US State Department urged Pakistan to present its application before the entire group.
Most of those opposing India’s joining the group argued the country should only be admitted under criteria that apply equally to all states rather than under a “tailor-made” solution for a U.S. ally.
“India is also pursuing membership into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, but certainly, if Pakistan wants to pursue that, that’s something for all the members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to consider”, he added.
But China on Thursday maintained its position that the NPT is central to the NSG, diplomats said.
Mexico is the last stop in Modi’s five-nation tour.
The Mexican support comes just in time as the 48-member NSG has called an “extraordinary” plenary meeting on Thursday when it is expected to take up for review India’s application for membership to the elite club that regulates global nuclear trade.
India decided in 2012 to pursue full membership to the NSG, which gave it an exceptional “country-specific” waiver in 2008. “As a country, we are going to be positively and constructively supporting India’s 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.
“It is possible China may now seek some kind of bargain, whereby it is given entry to the MTCR in return for letting India get into the NSG”, Praveen Swami said in the Indian Express newspaper.
Pena Nieto’s support is a boost for Modi, but he must still win China’s support to seal India’s membership of the non-proliferation body. If China does not relent, there is no way that India can get membership to the grouping. The Congress too criticised Modi for not being grateful towards former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his contributions to making of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
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“Mexico is looking forward to having a positive engagement in the discussions regarding India’s NSG membership”, Mexico’s ambassador to India Melba Pria had told this newspaper days before Modi’s visit. The NSG was set up in response to India’s first nuclear test in 1974. Earlier this week, Modi received more clear-cut support for India’s membership from Switzerland, another member of the bloc.
