The UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a landmark treaty to regulate the $80-billion-a-year conventional arms trade worldwide, but India, concerned over a possible negative impact on its defence contracts and agreements, was among 23 countries that abstained during the vote in New York.
The treaty was passed by the 193-member UNGA 154-3, with Syria, North Korea and Iran voting against. The first major arms accord since the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty of 1996, it will cover tanks, armoured combat vehicles, artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, as well as small arms and light arms. Pakistan, in a surprise move, voted in favour though it had earlier backed India’s stand that it favoured arms exporters and didn’t protect the interests of importers. France, which too was supportive of India’s view, also voted in favour along with the US and Britain. Besides India, other notable abstentions came from Russia, which backed New Delhi’s stand, and China.
The treaty aims to force countries to set up national controls on arms exports. States must also assess if a weapon can be used for genocide, war crimes or by terrorists or organised crime before being sold.
Every country is free to sign and ratify the treaty, which will take effect after the 50th ratification, which could take up to two years.