Assertive but Flexible: India's Approach to Non-Proliferation and Export Controls

Abstract

India’s international profile as a rising power has drawn considerable attention in recent years, and external powers such as the United States and European countries have begun to change their global non-proliferation and export control regimes, which have been sites of considerable tensions between India and world powers over many decades. It also examines how India’s approach has been perceived by external powers and points to opportunities for deepening engagement with India over the coming years. India will likely continue to pursue an assertive approach in the future, making its formal entry into these regimes difficult. However, India is not averse to strategic bargaining on these issues, and there are opportunities for external powers, including the European Union and its member states, to deepen engagement with India. However, much depends on the approach taken by each side. Constructive engagement will require that each side demonstrates flexibility and recognises the constraints facing the other side. The paper identifies steps that both India and the EU need to take in order to step up collaboration engagement, and identifies pathways for possible cooperation in the area of nuclear safety.