IAEA Chief Endorses India’s NSG Bid, Points to China as Key Obstacle
Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has voiced strong support for India’s inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a 48-member body that regulates nuclear trade to prevent proliferation. Speaking during his visit to India in March 2025, Grossi highlighted India’s significant nuclear program and responsible approach, calling its exclusion from the NSG illogical given its membership in three other export control regimes—the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the Australia Group.
India’s bid to join the NSG, ongoing since 2016, has been stalled primarily by China, which insists that India must sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for entry—a condition India rejects. Grossi, while not directly naming China in his latest remarks, referenced past “multilateral dynamics” that blocked progress during his time as NSG president, a clear nod to Beijing’s opposition. China’s stance is often tied to its rivalry with India and support for Pakistan, pushing for a “criteria-based approach” that could delay or complicate India’s admission. Grossi underscored India’s advancements in nuclear science and its “indisputable” role in the field, arguing that such nations should be welcomed into the NSG fold.
