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Nuclear Suppliers Group history
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The NSG was
founded in response to the Indian nuclear test in May 1974
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and first met in November 1975. The test
demonstrated that certain non-weapons specific nuclear technology could be
readily turned to weapons development. Nations already signatories of the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) saw the need to further limit the
export of nuclear equipment, materials or technology. Another benefit was
that non-NPT and non-Zangger Committee nations, then specifically France,
could be brought in.
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A series of
meetings in London from 1975 to 1978 resulted in agreements on the guidelines
for export, these were published as INFCIRC/254 (essentially the Zangger
"Trigger List") by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Listed
items could only be exported to non-nuclear states if certain International
Atomic Energy Agency safeguards were agreed to or if exceptional
circumstances relating to safety existed.
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The name of the
"London Club" was due to the series of meetings in London. It has
also been referred to as the London Group, or the London Suppliers Group.
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The NSG did not
meet again until 1991. The "Trigger List" remained unchanged until
1991, although the Zangger list was regularly updated. The revelations about
the Iraqi weapons program following the first Gulf War led to a tightening of
the export of so-called dual-use equipment. At the first meeting since 1978,
held at the Hague in March 1991, the twenty-six participating governments
agreed to the changes, which were published as the "Dual-use List"
in 1992, and also to the extension of the original list to more closely match
the up-to-date Zangger list.
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Initially the NSG
had seven participating governments: Canada, West Germany, France, Japan, the
Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1976-77,
participation was expanded to fifteen with the admittance of Belgium,
Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and
Switzerland. Germany was reunited in 1990 while Czechoslovakia broke up into
the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. Twelve more nations joined up to
1990. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union a number of former republics
were given observer status as a stage towards future membership. China became
a participating government in 2004. The European Commission and the Zangger
Committee Chair participate as observers. The NSG Chair for 2015-2016 is
Argentina.
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During a state
visit to India in November 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama announced U.S.
support for India's participation in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the
Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group and the Missile Technology Control
Regime, "in a phased manner," and to encourage the evolution of
regime participation criteria to that end, "consistent with maintaining
the core principles of these regimes
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India
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During a visit to
India in December 2010, French President Sarkozy also expressed his country's
backing for India's inclusion in Nuclear Suppliers Group.
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The United
Kingdom has for a long time been a supporter of India's inclusion in the
Nuclear Suppliers Group.
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During Republic
Day visit of India in January 2015, Obama said that India was ready for NSG
membership.
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Russian president
Vladimir Putin has also offered unconditional support to India's entry into
NSG.
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Switzerland also
announced its backing on India's Membership in 48 member group on 6 June 2016
during PM Modi's visit to Geneva, but withdrew support later. President Obama
reiterated U.S. support for India's NSG membership on 8 June 2016 during PM
Modi's visit to Washington DC. Japan has expressed support for India's bid
for membership of the NSG. However China is opposing India's membership to
NSG. Other countries opposing Indian membership of the Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) include New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria.
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In June 2016,
India got crucial support from Mexico in its bid to become a member of the
NSG ahead of a plenary meeting of the 48-nation bloc whose members are
allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. On June 17, British Premier
David Cameron has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the UK's "firm
support" for India's NSG membership bid. In an interview on June 18,
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was 'positive' about India's
entry into NSG. On June 20, Canada stated that NSG will be strengthened with
India's presence. On June 22 France reiterated its support to India,and urged
all the other 48 members of the NSG to allow entry for India into the atomic
control body.
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Pakistan
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Pakistan applied
for membership on May 19, 2016.Pakistan is supported by Turkey and
China.[22][23] However, many NSG members would oppose Pakistan’s membership
bid because of its track record, including the illicit procurement network of
Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan, which aided the nuclear programs of Iran,
Libya and North Korea.
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Namibia
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Namibia applied
for NSG membership in 2016
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List of
names of NSG Countries
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Argentina
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Australia
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Austria
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Belarus
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Belgium
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Brazil
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Bulgaria
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Canada
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China
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Croatia
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Cyprus
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Czech Republic
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Denmark
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Estonia
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Finland
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France
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Germany
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Greece
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Hungary
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Iceland
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Ireland
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Italy
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Japan
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Kazakhstan
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Latvia
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Lithuania
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Luxembourg
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Malta
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Mexico
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Netherlands
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New Zealand
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Norway
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Poland
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Portugal
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Romania
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Russia
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Serbia
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Slovakia
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Slovenia
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South Africa
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South Korea
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Spain
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Sweden
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Switzerland
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Turkey
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Ukraine
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United Kingdom
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United States
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