Prime Minister Modi thanked Mexico for its positive and constructive support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) following delegation level talks with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
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A “prosperous and strong” India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership is making its presence felt across the world, BJP President Amit Shah today said as he claimed that Modi’s five-nation tour had earned “unprecedented” strategic and diplomatic achievements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also thanked Mexico and said that Mexico is a very important partner of India in its energy security.
Six nations – China, New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria – had been opposing India’s NSG membership.
The NSG is holding an extraordinary plenary in Geneva on June 9-10 during which India’s membership is being taken up for consideration.
India has got strong backing from the USA for NSG membership with President Barack Obama extending support during Modia’s visit to the United States on Tuesday. As Mexico is a member of NSG, so its support for India is also very important.
However, reports from Vienna said that China was leading the opposition to India’s membership.
New Delhi’s bid for full membership, if granted, would tip the balance of power in South Asia against its arch-rival Pakistan, whose own application has been backed by China, despite questions over its proliferation record.
Congress is critical of China playing spoilsport to India’s possible entry into NSG. The NSG works on the principle of unanimity and even one country’s vote against India will scuttle its bid.
“India entered into the Indo-US nuclear deal under the leadership of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh”.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto drives PM Modi to a Restuarant.
Apart from the NSG, Chinese state television said that enhancing defense ties with USA would also be a high priority on Modi’s agenda. However, Switzerland had eariler in this week had given their consent on the bid of NSG made by India for membership.
“After joining this group, India, for the first time would be able to export weapons”.
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Obama’s public display of support is likely to be noted in Beijing, which has been skeptical about nuclear-armed India’s admission. Diplomats in Vienna suggested Thursday that India is closer than ever to joining the NSG, despite never fulfilling the requirement of signing a global treaty aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.
