vaccine diplomacy
   Date :23-Jan-2021

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STICKING to its image of a ‘friend in need’, India has started sending domestically developed vaccine shipments to the immediate neighbourhood as per the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Vaccines have started arriving Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Next in line to receive the doses are Myanmar and Seychelles. In the meanwhile, 92 countries have approached India for the COVID-19 vaccines further bolstering credentials of the Indian jab with transcontinental appeal.
 
The vaccine diplomacy is a necessary part of foreign policy and an effective measure to push back China in the countries where it has a dominating presence. India’s image as the vaccine hub has now provided Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to reclaim most of the diplomatic ground in these countries. The gains of goodwill will pay rich dividends in the future, though New Delhi has never believed in transactional way of diplomacy. Helping people in distress without caring for political outcomes has remained a time-tested policy for India. Using strength of being the biggest maker of generic drugs will definitely help India in building strong bonds of friendship in South Asia.