ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
India is reportedly in talks for a visit by Prime Minister John Key, possibly in early October, with an eye on securing support for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group ahead of his Vienna meeting in November. New Zealand, an NSG member, had raised questions about India's entry into the exclusive club, based on its stand that only signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are eligible to join the group, the Economic Times reported this week.
But the PM's Office in Wellington has not confirmed whether Key had been invited to visit New Delhi.
India hasn't signed the NPT treaty. The primary objective of hosting Key is to elicit his country's support for NSG membership, people familiar with the development told ET. While China blocked India's entry into the NSG at the Seoul plenary meeting in June, New Zealand raised questions about India's bid, citing nonproliferation concerns. Although it did not take sides with China, Wellington expressed concern over admitting India would adversely affect the nonproliferation regime. While New Zealand is a close US ally, the Obama administration, which lobbied for India's case among NSG members, could not fully influence Wellington. Australia, another strong proponent of India's entry into NSG, had also moved its neighbour on the issue. India wants membership of the NSG to get enhanced and uninterrupted access to nuclear technology, fuel and materials needed to expand its expanding civil nuclear programme. Decisions by the group are taken by consensus. After the Seoul plenary, New Zealand High Commissioner to India Grahame Morton said his country only wanted norms to be fixed to admit nonNPT states into the 48nation NSG, which controls global trade in nuclear technology.
Morton said the NSG's doors for India were not closed and constructive discussion would lead to a solution. "It is a process and talks will continue," he said. It is understood that while the top Kiwi political leadership is favourably disposed to India's entry, the New Zealand foreign ministry has been dragging its feet on the matter because of India's nonNPT status. India is hoping Key's visit would help bridge that gap, people familiar with the issue said. New Zealand is a member of a group of NPT parties called the New Agenda Coalition, which focuses on identifying and advocating practical steps on nuclear disarmament. The other members are Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico and South Africa.
~ Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury
India is reportedly in talks for a visit by Prime Minister John Key, possibly in early October, with an eye on securing support for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group ahead of his Vienna meeting in November. New Zealand, an NSG member, had raised questions about India's entry into the...
India is reportedly in talks for a visit by Prime Minister John Key, possibly in early October, with an eye on securing support for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group ahead of his Vienna meeting in November. New Zealand, an NSG member, had raised questions about India's entry into the exclusive club, based on its stand that only signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are eligible to join the group, the Economic Times reported this week.
But the PM's Office in Wellington has not confirmed whether Key had been invited to visit New Delhi.
India hasn't signed the NPT treaty. The primary objective of hosting Key is to elicit his country's support for NSG membership, people familiar with the development told ET. While China blocked India's entry into the NSG at the Seoul plenary meeting in June, New Zealand raised questions about India's bid, citing nonproliferation concerns. Although it did not take sides with China, Wellington expressed concern over admitting India would adversely affect the nonproliferation regime. While New Zealand is a close US ally, the Obama administration, which lobbied for India's case among NSG members, could not fully influence Wellington. Australia, another strong proponent of India's entry into NSG, had also moved its neighbour on the issue. India wants membership of the NSG to get enhanced and uninterrupted access to nuclear technology, fuel and materials needed to expand its expanding civil nuclear programme. Decisions by the group are taken by consensus. After the Seoul plenary, New Zealand High Commissioner to India Grahame Morton said his country only wanted norms to be fixed to admit nonNPT states into the 48nation NSG, which controls global trade in nuclear technology.
Morton said the NSG's doors for India were not closed and constructive discussion would lead to a solution. "It is a process and talks will continue," he said. It is understood that while the top Kiwi political leadership is favourably disposed to India's entry, the New Zealand foreign ministry has been dragging its feet on the matter because of India's nonNPT status. India is hoping Key's visit would help bridge that gap, people familiar with the issue said. New Zealand is a member of a group of NPT parties called the New Agenda Coalition, which focuses on identifying and advocating practical steps on nuclear disarmament. The other members are Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico and South Africa.
~ Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury
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