India Enters the MTCR

The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is one of the four nonproliferation regimes, enacted by 35 countries (incl India) to prevent the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of carrying a 500 kg payload for at least 300 km. The MTCR was established in April 1987 by the G7 countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain, and the United States. Four “unilateral adherents” that follow its rules: Israel, Romania, Slovakia, Macedonia. India also joined on 27th of June 2016 adhering to the MTCR Guidelines unilaterally.

I. Introduction

• The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) established in April 1987 by the G7 countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain, and the United States of America.

• The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is a multilateral export control regime.

• It is an informal and voluntary partnership among 35 countries (Fig 1) to prevent the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of carrying above 500 kg payload for more than 300 km.

Fig 1. Member nations of MTCR

A. Purpose of MTCR

• The MTCR was initiated by like-minded countries to address the increasing proliferation of nuclear weapons by addressing the most destabilizing delivery system for such weapons.

• In 1992, the MTCR's original focus on missiles for nuclear weapons delivery was extended to a focus on the proliferation of missiles for the delivery of all types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), i.e., nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

• To maintain vigilance over the transfer of missile equipment, material, and related technologies usable for systems capable of delivering WMD.

II. Significance to India

Fig 2. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar receives MTCR membership papers from Envoys of France, Netherlands and Luxembourg

A. Positive Aspects

• India’s entry into MTCR will bring it closer to NSG membership and will also help boost relations with other global Non-proliferation Community.

• The entry into this group will shape the future of India’s engagement with not just the MTCR but also the broader global non-proliferation community.

• Admission to the MTCR would open the way for India to buy high-end missile technology.

• After MTCR's announcement, India and the US are expected to fast-track their discussion on sale of predator series of unmanned aircraft for the Indian military.

• It will also enhance the level of understanding between MTCR member nations and India, allowing the latter to import technologies for peaceful purposes.

• India can counter China, who is still not a member of MTCR, when it comes to its entry in MCTR.

• ISRO will have reliable access to restricted technologies for developing its cryogenic engines in order to enhance space exploration.

• India will now have greater options to acquire and integrate a wider variety of cutting-edge technologies, thereby giving ‘Make in India’ initiative a further boost.

B. Negative Aspects

• Relations with China can hamper, If both countries start countering each other is their respective communities ( India in MTCR and China in NSG).

• Defense budget need to be increased, if India want to purchase new missile technologies from MTCR members, which will have an effect on other budgets.

• The dominant member nations like France and the UK have bent the rules of the group in their favor in the past. In all likelihood, the US is still likely to treat the export of armed drones to India with much more caution than it does to NATO allies.

III. Way Ahead

Indian membership to the regime has two implications.

• First, India’s accession will be seen as strengthening its own export controls, therefore lessening those risks and making it easier for other MTCR members to justify transferring sensitive technology to India.

• Second, while MTCR guidelines themselves do not explicitly distinguish between transfers to members and non-members – they focus instead on what is being exported and end-use, rather than the membership status of the recipient – American law does make this distinction.

• Despite India’s “harmonization” with the guidelines, US legislators have declared that “India is not an MTCR adherent”. India’s formal membership will presumably mean that other countries can be less fearful of US sanctions if they wish to sell to India.