A fast forward to 2030
Imagine a fast forward of 10 years at 2030. In a recap of a decade, you will see that the COVID pandemic that has left a permanent mark on the world. It has resulted in the changed lifestyles, more digitalization, and reducing carbon footprint. The entire world was struggling to respond to COVID. The developed countries, countries with free healthcare and advanced medical facilities faced a challenge to contain the outbreak. At the same time, a developing country emerged providing vaccines touching more than a quarter of the world population. India, not only conducted the largest vaccination drive in the history of mankind but also gave vaccines to more than 40 countries covering 4 continents in the world.
Diplomacy and the culture of the country!
Diplomacy doesn’t demand an open show of strength all the time, rather to act silently. In 2003, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was debating words with his parliamentary colleagues to comment on the US invasion of Iraq. He asked them to formulate an approach that was consistent with Indian principles and the country’s long-term national interests. He said, “Quiet diplomacy is far more effective than public posturing”. Atal ji has said something very profound, which closely aligns with India’s non-violence and cultural assimilation history. Diplomacy is an extended tool to execute a nation’s policy on the international front. Though diplomacy is perceived as a shrewd way of working, Atal ji insisted to align diplomacy with Indian principles of the world as a family, and everyone should be happy.
Diplomacy includes influencing another territory without taking over it. Different countries have differently interpreted influence based on their culture and character. Diplomacy is an advanced and fine-tuned extension of war to extend territorial influence. US sells weapons to 98 countries, European countries provide around €50B aid every year and China provides more than $1.5 trillion loan to more than 150 countries. The trend shows the use of either muscle or money power to express the influence. The world powers are creating disruption by increasing arms race, instability and upsetting the economic balance. This is disturbing the societal equilibrium of the country. It might be touching a majority of human life, but one can’t be sure of the positive impact of it.
Vaccine Diplomacy
Since last year, the world is facing an existential threat of the COVID pandemic. It has adversely impacted the countries from their economic system to societies. The world is still coping up and trying to put a fight against it. As a leading Pharmaceutical research country, two Indian companies (Serum Institution of India and Bharat Biotech) have successfully developed the COVID vaccines. While every country is prioritizing the use of their own vaccine for their population, India took a slightly different approach. Naturally, India being one of the most populous country is on the higher side of COVID cases. Indian vaccine manufactures can produce approximately 75 million vaccines a month. So India can provide vaccines to the world without compromising the healthcare of its own people.
This has allowed a leadership role for India by providing vaccines to around 40 countries. India has categorized countries into poor, price-sensitive nations and countries that can directly deal with pharmaceutical companies. This is a fundamental change in India’s stand on the global stage. India has now moved from the aid taking nation category to aid giving nation category. India has sent free vaccines to SAARC members Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. The next phase is for the friends in Africa (Mauritius and Seychelles) and Southeast Asia (Myanmar). India also delivered vaccines to Dominica in Caribbean , Morocco in Africa, and Brazil in South America. As of yesterday, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau called PM Modi requesting COVID vaccines. Canada is one of the developed nations, providing free healthcare for its residents is looking up to India for COVID vaccines. India has pledged 200 million vaccines for WHO’s poorer nations vaccine drive in comparison to China’s pledge of 10 million vaccines.
India has emerged as a world leader using its intellectual property to develop vaccines and a strong cultural ethos to help the world. If we put this in perspective, India will be giving vaccines to more than 40 countries in the world amounting almost a quarter of the world’s population. This means India is touching the lives of every 4th person in the world. This is a very big impact, especially coming from one of the so-called non-developed (developing) countries. Most importantly, India didn’t consider the current state of diplomatic relations while providing vaccines to countries like Canada, where PM has frequently issued statements that are threatening Indian sovereignty.
The role of United Nations
I would quote again my favorite person, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who said during his address to United Nations General Assembly in 2003 that, “The international institutions like the UN can only be as effective as its members allow it to be”. The UN, WHO are doing their best to respond to the pandemic, but it can be only effective if member states contribute to everyone’s expectations. The earlier US Administration (45th) didn’t maintain a very good relationship with WHO, so when the world needed a leader to fight this pandemic, traditional world leaders didn’t stand up to the expectations. However, India’s response to COVID has accelerated India’s position as a world leader touching human lives across four continents. However, if the UN really wants to be an effective organization, then it’s time to reform the organization based on equity. India being a 1/6th of the world’s population and serving a quarter of the population when world leaders are nowhere to be seen has made a strong global impact, making its candidature more strong for UNSC permanent seat.
India is a non-permanent member of the security council and demanding a permanent representation in the security council based on the equity in the region and the world. The COVID has shown India’s preparedness, willingness, and ability to help the world. The COVID has changed the world order. The issues in front of the security council will also evolve and transform into digital security, non-conventional weapons, and bio-chemical threats. The non-conventional nature of the problem will require an innovative solution with an overhaul of the UN structure. India is a strong candidate of the UNSC’s permanent membership with 18% of the world’s population, armed with nuclear power, and emerged as a world leader in the unconventional calamity on the globe. The demand for India’s permanent seat is always been vetoed by China. China is open for UNSC reforms in a package deal format, where more medium and small size nations can be involved. China is pushing back on India’s inclusion in UNSC with a veto power as it’s not in China’s favor. India is taking over the UNSC chairman role this August. The recent examples of Doklam, India worked with small neighboring state of Bhutan and resolved border issues with China peacefully. India has bilaterally resolved 45 years longstanding border issues with Bangla Desh. This has shown India’s commitment as a regional leader and collaborating with neighbors for collective progress. The global vaccine drive is proving India at the world stage. Atal ji once said that we can change our history, but we can’t change the geography. Now it will be interesting to see how India tackles the hostile neighbor, China’s opposition to UNSC permanent membership, and gathers the support of other UNSC members over the period to become a UNSC permanent member.