Promising strong support from United States President Barack Obama for New Delhi's candidature for membership of the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), U.S. Ambassador to India Richard Verma on Friday said India presents a strong case and Washington will continue to extend its support for India's accession in the NSG.
"We think they present a strong case and have been strongly supportive of its succession into the Nuclear Suppliers Group," Verma told the media.
"It was probably six years ago that President Obama affirmed strong support for India's entry into the NSG. We have reaffirmed that many times over the years," he added.
We have been supportive at the highest possible levels and will continue to do so as this plays out over the next day or so.
According to sources, Brazil today supported India's bid but called for a common criteria for all non-NPT states.
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Brazil also said that India has by far a better nuclear proliferation record than Pakistan.
However, in a complete shocker, Switzerland, who had earlier extended its complete support, has now opposed New Delhi's bid citing it being a non Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) state.
This comes as a jolt for India as earlier, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Switzerland; the European nation had extended its complete support.
Meanwhile, in another blow to India, China has said that the NSG will not discuss its membership bid into the elite group, adding that New Delhi will first have to sign the NPT, as it is a must and a major criteria set up by the NSG.
Earlier, highly placed sources told ANI that China is not the sole opponent to India's member ship to the NSG, but Brazil, Austria, Ireland, Turkey and New Zealand too have opposed India's entry, citing it's not being a signatory of the NPT for nuclear weapons and weapons technology.
