Mr.Coordinator,

Let me at the outset, once again,begin by congratulating you, and also thanking you,for assuming the coordinator-ship of this subsidiary body.My delegation assures you of our full support.

2. India believes that transparency in armaments is a necessary tool for confidence building and for enhancing mutual trust among States. It must aim to secure the widest possible participation of States incontributing effectively to the process of confidence-building.

3. Measures relating to transparency in armaments should be mutually agreed upon by all States and appropriately take into account national security imperatives. They must respect the inherent right of States to self-defence, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

4. Such measures cannot restrict or prejudice the legitimate right of States to acquire or produce arms for self-defenceand in pursuit of their national security interests.

Mr. Coordinator,

5. Regarding transparency measures for biological and chemical weapons, the BWC and CWC serve as essential governance frameworks. India has consistently shared relevant information in accordance with these instruments on an annual basis.

6. As a nuclear-weapon state, India believes that transparency in respect of nuclear weapons cannot be considered in isolation. It should be situated in the context of an agreed multilateral framework, involving all nuclear-weapon States, andwithout prejudice to their national security interests.

Mr. Coordinator,

7. With respect to conventional weapons, India has supported the UN Register on Conventional Arms and has regularly submitted national reports to the Register. India has participated actively in the three-yearly reviews of the Register and supports efforts for further improving the Register, along with efforts towards universalizing the participation.

8. The Register is a valuable voluntary transparency and confidence-building mechanism,allowing countries to report on their international transfers of conventional arms.

9. The GGE on United Nations Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA), chaired by India in 2022, adopted a consensus report. The Group recommended the adoption of a description for small arms & light weapons to be reported upon under 7 plus 1 formula. It also reflected on the advancement in technologies to ensure that the 7 categories of the Register continue to capture all relevant conventional weapons. 

10. The Group reached consensus on recommending the adjustment of the scope of Category V including rotary wing un-manned combat vehicles. 

11. The GGE introduced proposals to increase participation including targeted awareness-raising through events and social media and the establishment of an informal group of friends of the Register. India encourages UN Member States to participate in reporting their international transfers of conventional arms to the Register.

12. In the past, India has supported the GA resolution on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditure. We also contributed to the work of the GGE on the Standardized Instrument for Reporting Military Expenditures held in 2011.

Mr. Coordinator,

13. India has regularly submitted its national reports to the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) as well as the CCW and its Protocols.

14. India is deeply concerned about the challenges posed by illicit transfers of conventional weapons, including SALW, to terrorists and non-State actors, which pose a major threat to international peace and security. These transfers, unfortunately, sometimes take place at the behest of certain state actors.

15. India accords high importance to the UNPOA as the cornerstone of multilateral efforts to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit trade in SALW. The full and effective implementation of the UNPOA and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) is a priority for India, especially as a means for combating terrorism and transnational crime.

16. India would also like to acknowledge that the Global Framework for safe, secure, and sustainable through-life management of conventional ammunition, adopted in 2023, recommended measures to promote transparency to minimize and mitigate the risks of diversion of conventional ammunition, including by promoting the disclosure of parties involved in the transfer chain, encourage pre and post-delivery information sharing, and denying transfers to unauthorized recipients, including non-State actors engaged in criminal and terrorist activities.

Mr.Coordinator,

17. India has a strong and effective national export controlsystem governing the transfer of conventional weaponsand related dual-use goods and technologies, which conform to the highest international standards and remains committed to preventing illegal transfer of conventional weapons.

18. Further, since 2017, India has been a participating State of the Wassenaar Arrangement, a multilateral export control regime on promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies. Within in the arrangement and outside, we have been sharing our best practices and implementation experiences; participating in the development of guidelines and lists of materials, equipment and technologies and harmonizing it with our national export control list.

I thank you.