Written By Nischal Srinivasan (Grade 12)
The Wassenaar Arrangement is a voluntary regime establishing dates for export controls that was created in July 1996 and is now used by 42 member countries to share crucial information on transfers of conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies. As a concerted effort made for the purpose of eventually abiding by the rules within the scope of exporting such materials, collaboration among the vessel nations is paramount. The supreme goal to be achieved is to disrupt the accretion of the threatening factors that menace stable global security.
The Wassenaar Arrangement was founded in Hague, Netherlands. Its offices are located in Vienna, Austria. Now, keep the exertion of India as the arrangement’s president, which signifies the active participation of the nation in the promotion of reciprocal trade, as a case in point. Notable indeed is the fact that India is assuming the role of hosting the Wassenaar Plenary 27, clearly underscoring the country’s devotion in relation to crafting the goals of the Wassenaar Arrangement.
The arrangement has a history worth noting, dating back to January 1995, when the beloved Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (CoCom), which was created by 12 nations, went out of existence. This periodization can be used to highlight the shift in the cooperation of the international community in terms of the control of the export of sensitive equipment to crisis areas. The arrangement of the Wassenaar waits for the format of simplification, encourages sharing of information among the membership, and also cooperates with it.
In the framework of the vital constituents of the Wassenaar Arrangement, there are various playing groups whose mission is to realise the main purposes of this arrangement. The General Working Group serves as a framework for discussion and resolution of big issues growing out of conventional, dual-purpose, and rocket technologies. The Expert Group, which consists of professionals in several disciplines, shares ideas as well as technical skills that can be used to enrich the agreement’s effectiveness. Also, the Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting is a fundamental mechanism whereby roles and efforts are harmonised to enforce export controls.
It is noteworthy that the Indian chairmanship is the first time in the conference that the participants place an exclusive emphasis on regional challenges. With its active membership (since 2017), India’s stand and involvement reiterate the concerns over the responsible transfers of services and technologies. The 27th Plenary Session will definitely give India an opportunity to render a substantial contribution towards the ongoing discussion and decision-making within the Forum among various nations.
All in all, the Wassenaar Arrangement takes a leading role in the international scene as the central initiative dealing with the preservation of world peace through the maintenance of responsible trade practices in the realm of conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies. Thereby, not only did it start with the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (CoCom), but it also demonstrated the flexibility of global systems in dealing with new challenges. With India leading the way, it would seem that the coalition is an attempt at this cooperation and information sharing through which to emphasise the shared responsibility for keeping the world secure.
Featured Image Courtesy – Modern Diplomacy
