Wassenaar Arrangement

Definition

A multilateral export-control regime that promotes transparency and responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, to prevent destabilising accumulations.

Key points

• It was established in 1996, succeeding the Cold War-era COCOM, and is named after Wassenaar, a town near The Hague in the Netherlands; its secretariat is in Vienna.
• It covers conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies (items with both civilian and military applications), through agreed control lists.
• India became a member in December 2017 as its 42nd participating State.
• Membership aids India's access to high-technology items and aligns it with global non-proliferation norms.
• It is one of the four major export-control regimes, alongside the MTCR, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the Australia Group.

Why it matters for CAPF

Among export-control regimes, the Wassenaar Arrangement and India's 2017 entry are standard international-relations facts; pairing it with the other three regimes is a common test pattern.

Common confusion

The Wassenaar Arrangement covers conventional arms and dual-use goods, not nuclear material (that is the NSG) or missiles (that is the MTCR). It is named after a place, not a person, and India is a member.

Related concepts

concept missile technology control regime, concept nuclear suppliers group, concept australia group, concept nuclear non proliferation treaty

Parent note

international organisations and india