Tom Kington
The failure of a series of diplomatic and legal efforts to solve a dispute between Italy and India over the deaths of two fishermen has left India’s bid to become a major global military player on hold, sources said.
A visit by Indian leader Narenda Modi to Brussels on March 30 for an India-European Union summit saw no easing of the standoff between Italy and India in the wake of the Asian nation’s arrest in 2012 of two Italian marines accused of shooting Indian fishermen while guarding an oil tanker.
That means Italy looks set to continue to veto India’s entry into the key Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an exclusive club which counts 34 member states and controls access to missile and UAV technology by nonmembers.
“I am not 100 percent pessimistic and I know the two countries are talking, but I am doubtful anything is moving,” said a source with knowledge of talks between Italy and India on the MTCR.
The stalemate in Brussels was revealed when Indian leader Modi and the EU issued a cautious, joint statement March 30:
"The EU shares Italy's concerns to find an expeditious solution for the prolonged restriction of liberty of the two Marines," said the statement.
"India stressed the need for rendering due justice for the families of the Indian fishermen who were killed," it added.
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