The Wassenaar Arrangement is a multilateral export control regime

India will assume the Chairmanship of the 42-nation Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) Plenary on January 1, 2023 for a period of one year.

The Wassenaar Arrangement is a 42-member multilateral export control regime that monitors transfer of conventional weapons and dual use goods.

India joined the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) just five years ago,.on December 8, 2017, as its 42nd Participating State.

Ambassador Eoin O'Leary of Ireland handed over the Chairmanship to Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UN and International Organizations in Vienna at the 26th annual Plenary of the WA held in Vienna on November 30-December 1, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

WA is a multilateral export control regime, which, through regular information exchange among members on transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, seeks to promote transparency and greater responsibility in such transfers and prevent destabilising accumulations.

The WA Plenary is the decision-making body of the Arrangement which operates based on consensus.

"As the incoming Chair of WA, India remains ready and committed to work in close cooperation with other members to further the WA goal of contributing to regional and international security and stability," the MEA said.