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India's Covid Crisis Draws Assistance and Aid From the U.S., European Nations
Posted
April 26, 2021
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1:49Now PlayingAs India battles a Covid-19 firestorm, the U.S. and European nations are coming to its aid with pledges of medical equipment and raw materials for more vaccines.
But it’s taken time to mobilize that support and it could yet cost the U.S. in particular some goodwill with the Indian public — a potential lost opportunity for President Joe Biden to gain geopolitical kudos.
Social media feeds have been crammed with cries for help on oxygen and medicine in a country averaging more than 300,000 new virus cases a day. While most of the public anger has centered on officials in India, the international response has also drawn scrutiny.
That could perpetuate a narrative that big powers are too busy looking after themselves — keeping a tight grip on Covid shots and equipment — to help poorer countries where the virus is running rampant.
And it could undercut a key message from the U.S.-led grouping known as the Quad, which Biden is seeking to mobilize as a counter point to China. Biden pitches the Quad — the U.S., Japan, Australia and India — as an outfit that can act collectively on the pandemic, delivering shots to other nations in Asia.
Beijing says the Quad is about one thing – stymieing China, and that it has no road map for collaboration on vaccines and issues like climate change beyond rhetoric.
China is also now offering its Indian neighbor, with whom it has tensions over territory and trade, support on the virus.
The risk is India’s terrible moment gets caught up in the broader game for pandemic soft power. And that it detracts from helping those desperately in need.
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