In a significant development, India has joined a key global ballistic missile proliferation regime on June 2. New Delhi, however, clarified that it will not have any impact on the national security as well as the country’s missile programmes.
Elaborating on India’s decision to join the regime, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said: “India has joined the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC) against Ballistic Missile Proliferation by notifying the HCoC Central Contact in Vienna through diplomatic channels.”
“The HCoC is a voluntary, legally non-binding international confidence building and transparency measure that seeks to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles that are capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction,” Mr Swarup added. The HCoC was formed in 2002. It comprises 137 members with China, Pakistan, Israel and Iran not being members of the voluntary regime.
On being asked whether India’s plan to join the HCoC will effectively mean that country has to shelve its Agni missile programme, Mr Swarup said: “Our national security interest will not be impacted in any manner, whatsoever, by joining HCoC.”
India will now have to provide pre-launch notifications on ballistic missiles, space launch vehicle launches and test flights as a signatory. As per the guidelines, India will also have to submit an annual declaration of policy on satellite launch vehicles and ballistic missiles.
Author Profile
- India Writes Network (www.indiawrites.org) is an emerging think tank and a media-publishing company focused on international affairs & the India Story. Centre for Global India Insights is the research arm of India Writes Network. To subscribe to India and the World, write to editor@indiawrites.org. A venture of TGII Media Private Limited, a leading media, publishing and consultancy company, IWN has carved a niche for balanced and exhaustive reporting and analysis of international affairs. Eminent personalities, politicians, diplomats, authors, strategy gurus and news-makers have contributed to India Writes Network, as also “India and the World,” a magazine focused on global affairs.
Latest entries
- India and the WorldOctober 7, 2024India, Maldives Ink Landmark MOUs to Boost Development Cooperation
- DiplomacyOctober 3, 2024Modi-Biden meeting showed strong strategic alignment between India and US: Expert
- DiplomacyOctober 3, 2024Why multi-alignment matters to India, explains Jaishankar
- DiplomacySeptember 27, 2024Jaishankar meets Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, focuses on improving ties