Global Security Newswire

Industry analysts believe President Obama could eliminate some U.S. restrictions on weapon-sensitive exports to India during his planned trip to the South Asian nation, the Indo-Asian News Service reported today (see GSN, Sept. 7).

India is barred from acquiring U.S. technology under 11 of the 16 classifications on the Commerce Department's control list, including all three sets of items relevant to chemical and biological weapons, one of two sets linked to nuclear proliferation and the set related to missile technology.

Experts, though, suggested the Obama administration might lift some of the limitations in light of the historic nuclear trade agreement signed by Washington and New Delhi in 2008 (see GSN, Oct. 13).

"I believe they are doing something about it," said Amit Mitra, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Obama's planned November trip to India "can indeed be a defining visit, if he can sell defense in return for technology transfer," said Mitra, who urged New Delhi to boost the maximum stake international firms could hold in India's arms industry from 26 percent to 49 percent (Indo-Asian News Service/Economic Times, Oct. 19).

Meanwhile, India has hinted it was open to joining the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the Times of India quoted Germany's top diplomat as saying yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 6).

India and eight additional "Annex 2" states must still join the global prohibition on nuclear test blasts before it can enter into force. The other holdouts are China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the United States.

"We acknowledge India's efforts to support nonproliferation. We would like to encourage her to move even closer to international nonproliferation system. We are encouraged by signs that India could be prepared to sign the CTBT. That will be a very important step forward to our position," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said after meeting with S.M. Krishna, his Indian equivalent (Times of India, Oct. 19).