Welcome to The Political Fix by Rohan Venkataramakrishnan, a newsletter on Indian politics and policy. To get it in your inbox every week,...
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The Big Story: Tardy grade
The support was late, but effusive. Over a couple of hours on Sunday, a whole slew of top US officials issued statements of support for India as it struggled to handle an enormous surge in Covid-19 cases, recording the worst daily numbers globally.
The messages of solidarity started with President Joe Biden and included Vice President Kamala Harris, the secretary of state, the defence secretary, the national security adviser and the surgeon general, among others.
Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need. https://t.co/SzWRj0eP3y
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 25, 2021
Crucially, the Biden administration statement went beyond words:
“The United States has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India. To help treat COVID-19 patients and protect front-line health workers in India, the United States has identified supplies of therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators, and...
