US rejects India’s plea to lift ban on the export of raw materials for Covid vaccine

India’s vaccine production in jeopardy

America was emerging as an ally of India; however, a true ally is the one who helps in testing times. America’s ungratefulness towards India proves that it can never be a friend to India !

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (Left) US’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Right)

Washington (US) – Defending US’s restrictions on the export of key raw materials for the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine that threatens to slow India’s vaccination drive, a senior State Department official has said the Biden Administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people. Just a few days ago, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had talks with US’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding the issue. Following which, Indian authorities were hopeful of US’s positive response. Serum Institute of India’s Adar Poonawalla had also requested Biden through a tweet.

‘Americans first’: US cites domestic priorities to reject India’s vaccine plea https://t.co/N8046vq4YI pic.twitter.com/3Tqj6sFSGW

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) April 23, 2021

US’s State Department spokesperson said, ‘It is not only in the US’s interest to see Americans vaccinated; but it is in the interests of the rest of the world to see Americans vaccinated. We have a special responsibility to the American people. America has been hit harder than any other country around the world – more than 5,50,000 deaths, tens of millions of infections in this country alone.’

America’s ungratefulness

Last year while America was facing a severe Covid wave, India had exported Hydroxychloroquine to it, a drug used for treating Covid patients. It was in a response to the then US President Trump’s request. India had helped on the grounds of humanity; however, the US has shown ungratefulness when India is in the crisis.