On June 1, 2016, India became the 138th subscribing nation to the Hague Code of Conduct (HCOC) against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.
India has joined the Code highlighting its readiness to further strengthen global non-proliferation objectives
India’s subscription reinforces its support for international missile non-proliferation and will help increase transparency and strengthen security.
Here is all you need to know about HCOC and India’s subscription to the code, summed up in 8 points:
- The HCoC is a voluntary mechanism that has built a broad international predisposition against ballistic missile proliferation that is capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
- It also promotes transparency and confidence building, including through the Subscribing States’ commitment to submit pre-launch notifications and annual declarations of their relevant policies.
- The HCoC was formed on 25th November 2002 with 137 members as a result of international efforts to regulate access to ballistic missiles which can potentially deliver WMDs. China, Pakistan, Israel, and Iran have not yet joined the voluntary regime.
- The HCoC does not ban ballistic missiles, but it calls for restraining their production, testing, and export. It is the only normative instrument to verify the spread of ballistic missiles.
- As a signatory, India will have to provide pre-launch notifications on ballistic missiles, space launch vehicle launches, and test flights. India will also need to submit an annual declaration of policy on satellite launch vehicles and ballistic missiles.
- India will also make a political commitment “to exercise maximum possible restraint in the development, testing and deployment of Ballistic Missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, including, where possible, to reduce national holdings of such missiles, in the interest of global and regional peace and security”.
- Our national security interest will not be impacted in any manner, whatsoever, by joining HCOC.
- This can be a hint that India will soon be part of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
