Mexico on Monday joined the Australia Group, an informal forum that seeks to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.

Mexico is the 42nd member of the Australia Group, the cooperative and voluntary group of countries working to counter the spread of materials, equipment, and technologies that could contribute to the development or acquisition of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) by states or terrorist groups.

There was a consensus and very strong support expressed for Mexico's membership at the Australia Group's June Plenary, with Mexico afterwards reaffirming its intention to join it, the Group said in a press release.

In warmly welcoming Mexico to the Group, the other Australia Group members recognized the Government of Mexico's steadfast efforts to bring Mexico's export control system fully into line with AG common control lists and guidelines.

The Mexican Government said it would contribute constructively to the achievement of the Group's objectives and to support its principles, in the interest of disarmament, global security, and non-proliferation. As an AG Participant, Mexico would also promote the fulfillment of international obligations created under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC,) the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC,) and UN Security Council Resolution 1540, among others.

The United States said this development highlights the Mexican Government's commitment to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including by regulating the trade of sensitive goods and technologies.

The State Department said it "looks forward to continuing our work with Mexico in the Australia Group in furtherance of our shared nonproliferation goals."

The other Australia Group members are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Republic of Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.