Diplomacy is a concept that has been relevant since the beginning of time. Not only among countries but small communities and regular people as well. It provides a sense of security or support from an external source in times of need.
The vaccine is an invaluable currency a country can possess during this epoch-making tragedy. The creation of an effective Covid-19 vaccine has been a worldwide endeavor and it has started showing success: multiple vaccines have been authorized worldwide.
India, being the second most populous nation has largely not been so severely affected in terms of the mortality rate dropping only at less than 2%, but initially, India was pitted against the biggest odds of partial to total lockdowns throughout the country causing distress, starvation, job losses, and unimaginable miseries for poor and destitute including mortality.
It is hence, very heartening to see an altogether better scenario in terms of containing cases due to the successes of multiple cost-effective and efficacious vaccines developed and authorized.
Using vaccines to increase or establish diplomacy, referred to as vaccine diplomacy, is becoming increasingly preferable as this fulfills the two-fold goal of establishing friendly relations as well as brings out the country’s image as a glorified helper of the needy. This is especially true for developing countries like India who can pose itself as a challenge to other global producers.
In this global battle to defeat this dreadful and enigmatic novel virus, the race to obtain a vaccine has attained geopolitical significance. The handful of countries that have managed to produce an effective defense against this bizarre virus thus have an edge.
In the initial phase of trials, few of the global producer countries like China, New Zealand, and the USA hadn’t made it clear as to how open they would be in exporting vaccine doses to other countries and only specified helping a few neighbors. This led to a fear of vaccine nationalism wherein the rich countries would benefit from locally produced vaccines, and the developing countries would not get priority in access to the vaccine which would ultimately prolong the pandemic itself.
Currently, countries like Russia, China, India, the USA, and the UK have successfully developed effective and authorized vaccines. Two goals need to be met for a vaccine-producing country: to immunize their own country and to send it out to other countries that don’t have access or the resources to do so.
While doing so care must be taken to not only look for profit in such a situation but to do it anyway on humanitarian grounds. In essence, this means that these vaccine-equipped countries should not just look for profitable countries to establish friendly relations but to
In the backdrop of vaccine diplomacy, there has been a widely uneven as well as an unfair distribution of vaccines. About 130 countries still have not yet received a single dose of any vaccine and are still endangered by this plaguing virus. Countries with the power to do so hence, need to formulate a global vaccination plan to ensure equitable distribution.
The dichotomy lies in the stark contrast among nations struggling to get hold of vaccine doses for those on the brink of death without any chance of getting inoculated anytime soon and the countries with promising vaccines available in abundance but is vying to capture profiteering vaccine markets; making money or political mileage for wolf diplomacy.
About 17 countries have bought the vaccine developed by China. There seem to be 25 countries in line for the Made in India vaccine. Russia has promised free doses of the Sputnik vaccine to its population and it is also being manufactured in other countries including India, South Korea, and Brazil.
Diplomacy without much concern for saving the lives of millions reeling under pandemic mortality vicious cycles in countries deprived of their vaccine development or those with the knowhow has to be discouraged.
Indian citizens are now questioning if their Government is going a little too far in the name of vaccine diplomacy and neglecting their citizens. While India receives global praise for its steps to provide around 56 lakh doses of the vaccine in 17 countries, the citizens themselves have received 41 lakh doses. It is leading many to feel insecure and uncertain about their future. The Government sees ‘vaccine diplomacy’ as an attempt to fix relations with their neighbors like Nepal and Bangladesh, which suffered a few stains in recent years due to territorial disputes. It is also an attempt to make new allies all around the world by reaching out to countries in South America, South Asia, and Africa. These countries have ties with strong developed countries like the USA, Russia, UK, and China. It is also an opportunity to challenge China’s vaccine on a global level and compete with one of their biggest competitors. Serum Institute of India (SII) is the World’s largest vaccine maker in volume and has partnered with Oxford to manufacture Astrazeneca, locally known as Covishield, which has been approved by WHO. India is using its reputation of being the ‘Global Pharmacy’ to improve their international relations, while the people within show doubts about their internal situation.
In gloomy times people tend to turn to others for help or advice. They need not be close confidants but sometimes a friendly smile in a lonely dark room or a helping hand may not be the exact solution to all our problems but can provide enough to keep going. This is a similar situation. India aims to provide similar assistance to countries, who are vulnerable and in dire need of help in the name of good faith. But it is also important to not chop off one’s arm to provide a hand to others. Only time will tell how these huge steps taken by the Government of India will impact not only the citizens of the country but nations all around. Nobody can be certain of the consequences that follow their actions, especially in these confusing times. But one can hope for a better future and give their strongest fight until the end.