Wassenaar Arrangement

Wassenaar Arrangement Latest News

The Wassenaar Arrangement faces challenges in adapting to cloud technology, requiring updates to control lists and enforcement mechanisms.

About Wassenaar Arrangement

• It is a multilateral “export control regime” for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
• The body came into being in 1996 to succeed the Cold War-era Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls.
• The name comes from Wassenaar, a suburb of the Hague, Netherlands, where the agreement to start such a multi-lateral cooperation was reached in 1995.
• Purpose: To promote transparency and greater responsibilities for transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods, as well as technologies, to prevent destabilizing actions.
• Member countries: 42 members.
• India joined the Wassenaar Arrangement in 2017 and incorporated its lists into its Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies framework. 
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.

‹ ›

How does Wassenaar Arrangement work?

• The group works by regularly exchanging information in respect of technology, both conventional and nuclear-capable, that is sold to, or denied to countries outside the grouping.
• This is done through maintenance and updating of detailed lists of chemicals, technologies, processes and products that are considered militarily significant.
• Through this exchange of information, the group aims at controlling the movement of technology, material or components to countries or entities which undermine international security and stability.

Source: TH