Wassenaar Arrangement (WA)

The Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) is a multilateral entity through which 42 Participating States promote co-operation on export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.

The Wassenaar Arrangement has been established in order to contribute to regional and international security and stability, by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, thus preventing destabilising accumulations. Participating States seek, through their national policies, to ensure that transfers of these items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities which undermine these goals, and are not diverted to support such capabilities. The aim is also to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists.