In call with PM Modi, US President Joe Biden promises much-needed ‘assistance’

In a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, US President Joe Biden promised full “support” to India in its fight against the COVID-19 crisis, which has battered the nation in the second wave. The US president has promised quick deployment of resources such as therapeutics, ventilators and also identifying sources of raw materials to be made available for the manufacture of Covishield vaccines, the statement by the PM office said.

With vaccination in India opening up for the 18-to 45-year age group from May 1, India is expected to need huge stocks.

The two leaders, according to the statement, discussed the COVID-19 situation in their respective countries, including India’s ongoing efforts to contain the second wave of COVID-19 through expedited vaccination efforts, and ensuring supply of critical medicines, therapeutics and healthcare equipment.

Conveying “solidarity”, President Biden tweeted:

PM Modi, who underscored the need to ensure smooth and open supply chains of raw materials and inputs required for manufacturing COVID vaccines, medicines, and therapeutics, said India is committed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic globally through Vaccine Maitri, and its participation in COVAX and the Quad Vaccine Initiatives.

Soon after the phone call with POTUS, Prime Minister Modi tweeted:

PM Modi and US President Biden, who “agreed to remain in regular touch“, underlined the potential of the India-US partnership in vaccine development and supply to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and directed their respective officials to maintain close coordination and cooperation in their efforts in this domain.

PM Modi, according to the statement, also informed the US President about India’s initiative at the WTO for a relaxation in the norms of the Agreement on TRIPS to ensure quick and affordable access to vaccines and medicines for developing countries.

This phone call comes just four days after the US defended it’s restrictions on the raw material required for the COVID vaccines. A State Department Official, as reported by the PTI, had said that the Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people.

However, the European Union, Germany, France and even China and Pakistan assured India of help to fight the second surge of the virus, which has so far infected 17.6 million people and has been infecting over 3 lakh people for four consecutive days.   

The Biden administration, which had come under criticism for its restrictions on the export of key raw materials for the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, on Sunday shifted a bit from its ‘American first’ approach to a more humanitarian and diplomatic approach and said that the US is “determined” to help, “just as India did” in US’s time of crisis.

“Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need,” he had tweeted.