Wassenaar Arrangement

Why in news:

The Wassenaar Arrangement: the need to reform export control regimes.

UPSC Relevance:

International organizations and Agreements

UPSC PYQ:

Q. Recently, the USA decided to support India’s membership in multi-lateral export control regimes called the “Australia Group” and the “Wassenaar Arrangement”. What is the difference between them? (2011)

1. The Australia Group is an informal arrangement which aims to allow exporting countries to minimize the risk of assisting chemical and biological weapons proliferation, whereas the Wassenaar Arrangement is a formal group under the OECD holding identical objectives.
2. The Australia Group comprises predominantly of Asian, African and North American countries whereas the member countries of Wassenaar Arrangement are predominantly from the European Union and American Continents.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

About Wassenaar Arrangement:

• The Wassenaar Arrangement has been established in order to contribute to regional and international security and stability, by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
• Participating States seek, through their national policies, to ensure that transfers of these items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities which undermine these goals, and are not diverted to support such capabilities. The aim is also to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists.

What is Dual Use: Ability of a good or technology to be used for multiple purposes usually peaceful and military.

The Participating States of the Wassenaar Arrangement are:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

The current Head of Secretariat is Ambassador György Molnár (Hungary).

• Secretariat: Vienna, Austria.
• India became a member of the Arrangement in 2017.

Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary:

• The Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary is the decision-making body of the Arrangement. It is composed of representatives of all Participating States and normally meets once a year, usually in December. 
• The position of Plenary Chair is subject to annual rotation among Participating States. All Plenary decisions are taken by consensus.
• The Plenary establishes subsidiary bodies for the preparation of recommendations for Plenary decisions and calls ad hoc meetings for consultations on issues related to the functioning of the Wassenaar Arrangement. 
  • At present, the main Wassenaar Arrangement subsidiary bodies are:
    • the General Working Group (GWG) dealing with policy-related matters
    • Experts Group (EG) addressing issues related to the lists of controlled items.
    • Once a year, a Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting (LEOM) is held.

The Wassenaar Arrangement:

• Uses export controls as a means to combat terrorism
• Contributes to regional and international security and stability
• Promotes transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies
• Complements and reinforces the export control regimes for weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems
• Is not directed against any state or group of states

The founding document of the Wassenaar Arrangement is known as the “Initial Elements”. The Initial Elements were originally established in 1996 and set out the purposes and scope of the Arrangement. 

Practice Question:

“Initial Element” are seen sometime in news related to which of the following?

a) Missile Technology Control Regime

b) Australia Group

c) Nuclear Supplier Group

d) Wassenaar Arrangement

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