With Hours To Go For NSG Meet In Vienna, Mexico Backs India Bid

Prime Minister Modi visited Mexico on the last leg of his five-nation-tour and here’s what you need to know.

Prime Minister Modi with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico City. (PIB)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Mexico on Thursday morning and thanked President Enrique Peña Nieto for backing India’s bid to become a member of the Nuclear Supplier’s Group (NSG). Besides Mexico, Switzerland, US and Japan have also expressed support for India’s entry into the NSG.

Mexico’s support for India is seen as crucial in its bid to become a member of the NSG ahead of its plenary meeting. Membership would allow India to trade in and export nuclear technology.

Mexico and Switzerland’s support is seen as important in the wake of China opposing India’s NSG membership, arguing that it was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

During his rushed visit, Modi met the Mexican President and the Indian diaspora in Mexico. The two leaders issued a joint statement following bilateral talks.

The two countries are looking to working jointly in:

• Agriculture research
  
• Bio-technology
  
• Waste management
  
• Disaster warning
  
• Solar energy
  

India is emerging from decades of isolation over its nuclear arms programme, and is poised to join the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) after talks between Modi and US President Barack Obama in Washington this week.

Membership of both groups stand to give India greater access to nuclear research and technology. Prime Minister Modi has now left for India, Mexico being the last destination on his five-day-five-nation tour.

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam