NSG Membership for Non-NPT NWS: Criteria and Prospects

There is on emerging debate on the expansion of the 48- notion Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)--o cartel of nuclear exporting countries-- for the non-NPT Nuclear Weapons States {NWS) (especially Indio and Pakistan, both of whome hove formally applied for NSG membership in 2016). China calls for a strict criteria including signing of the NPT as a pre-requisite for NSG membership whereas the US strives for Indian entry into the NSG without strict restrictions. A criterion-based approach is also evolving which may create a balance between political motives and non-proliferation commitments. The June 2016 Plenary of the NSG has fai led to achieve consensus on the issue. Subsequently, a synthesis called Grossi formula proposed nine conditions as a benchmark for the membership of non-NPT NWS. Though the 2017 NSG Plenary though considered applications of non-NPT states, yet it decided to continue deliberations on theissue. This paper attempts to analyse various proposed criteria and assesses the prospects of NSG membership for the non-NPT NWS.