Mexico's Peña Nieto Wants to End India's
Nuclear Isolation

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  Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto delivers a speech during the inauguration of the 36th session of ECLAC at Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, May 24, 2016. | Photo: Reuters

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India needs the backing of China to end its isolation and join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, but the East Asian giant has so far shot down New Delhi's requests. 

Mexico supports India's efforts to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), President Enrique Peña Nieto said on Wednesday, in a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic push to end his country's isolation over its nuclear arms program.

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India's bid to join the NSG is due to be discussed at a plenary session of the 48-member group in Vienna on Thursday.

Mexico recognizes India's interest in joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Peña Nieto said, with Modi at his side at the Mexican president's Los Pinos residence. As a country we have a positive and constructive backing for this.

India is also poised to join the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) after talks this week between Modi and U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington.

Both groups would give India greater access to research and technology, but China has so far blocked India´s accession to the NSG.

Mexico supported India's membership because of Modi's commitment to the agenda of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Peña Nieto said.

New Delhi's bid for full membership, if granted, would tip the balance of power in South Asia against its arch-rival Pakistan, whose own application has been backed by China, despite questions over its proliferation record.

Peña Nieto's support is a boost for Modi, but he must still win China's support to seal India's membership of the non-proliferation body. The NSG holds its annual meeting in South Korea later this month.