India has assumed the chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) on January 1, 2023.
On 1stDecember 2022, at the 26th annual plenary of the Wassenaar arrangement in Vienna, Ambassador of Ireland handed over the chairmanship to India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Jaideep Mazumdar.
Significance for India: The timing of India’s WA chairmanship coincides with a recent increase in country’s anti-terrorism position in international bodies.
Terrorism is one of the three challenges along with climate change and pandemics in India’s agenda for its G20 presidency beginning December 1st 2022.
India is also actively engaging global stakeholders in curbing terrorist financing. The Union Home Minister is presently the chair of the No Money for Terrorism (NMFT) ministerial initiative.
India assuming the Chair of Wassenaar arrangement attests to its commitment and credibility as a country committed to disarmament and prevention of misuse of dual use products and technologies which is a joint International effort to contain any negative fallout.
