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India Gives Coronavirus Vaccines to Neighbors as it Pushes Vaccine Diplomacy

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - In an unusual diplomatic initiative, India has donated
   millions of doses of the British-developed AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
   being produced in the country to neighboring South Asian nations.

   The "vaccine diplomacy" aims to raise New Delhi's global profile and
   push back against China, which has been expanding its influence in
   South Asia, analysts say.

   "It's about image and soft power. India wants to be recognized as a
   global leader," Sreeram Chaulia, dean at the Jindal School of
   International Affairs, said.

   As the world's largest vaccine producer, India is set to be at the
   forefront of supplying affordable shots against COVID-19 to low- and
   middle-income countries. An Indian company, the Serum Institute of
   India, has joined with AstraZeneca to make the vaccine.

   Shipments of the vaccine landed in recent days in Bhutan, Nepal,
   Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Mauritius and Seychelles, just days
   after India launched its own nationwide inoculation program. The
   vaccine will be sent to Sri Lanka and Afghanistan after it gets
   approval in those countries.

   However, India's rival Pakistan, which has approved the AstraZeneca
   vaccine, is conspicuously absent from the list of recipients.

   "As far as Pakistan [is concerned], I am not aware of any request for
   India-made vaccines," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson
   Anurag Srivastava said in response to a query at a regular press
   briefing.

   The low-cost and easily storable AstraZeneca vaccine is in huge demand
   in developing countries struggling to vaccinate their populations.

   New Delhi has given its diplomatic initiative its own hashtag,
   "VaccineMaitri#" or "Vaccine friendship." The goodwill gesture comes
   amid growing criticism of "vaccine inequality" or unequal access to
   vaccines between rich and developing countries and has won praise from
   India's smaller neighbors.

   "Friendly nations help each other. India has helped us today with
   vaccine; just like they forwarded their helping hand in our Liberation
   War," said Zahid Maleque, Bangladesh's health minister.

   "A friend in need is a friend indeed," he said.

   As the pandemic puts the spotlight on India as a "vaccine powerhouse,"
   Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that it will prioritize
   South Asian countries in access to vaccine supplies.

   "We will continue to give due importance to our Neighborhood First
   policy while collectively fighting the pandemic," he said in a recent
   tweet.

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