US in vaccine diplomacy race
The Biden administration last week announced that the US would share about 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with other countries over the coming weeks and months. While the decision will help to fight the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it also marked the first entry by the US into a competition for influence through vaccine diplomacy. Russia and China are far ahead of any Western countries in providing COVID-19 vaccines as a form of diplomacy, even though both countries have had slow starts to vaccinating their own populations.
Russia is exporting its Sputnik V vaccine to about 70 countries. These include states that are Russian allies, such as Syria and Venezuela, and nations where Russia competes for influence, such as Hungary and Slovakia. Russia’s vaccine diplomacy is achieving multiple political and economic goals. Moscow enjoys any opportunity to criticize the US and has highlighted America’s decision to focus on vaccinating its own population. Russia has also successfully created division within the EU. Russia’s provision of vaccines helps it reframe narratives about its actions — emphasizing the country’s role in providing lifesaving medicine rather than concerns about its actions in Syria or Ukraine or its treatment of political dissidents. China has also used vaccine diplomacy to achieve multiple goals, including trying to restore its reputation after the pandemic originated within its borders. Beijing is exporting vaccines to about 90 countries. In most cases, it sells the vaccines and sometimes provides loans. China donates some of the vaccines, particularly to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The US is now entering into vaccine diplomacy, but it has made a late start. Both the Trump and Biden administrations focused on ensuring that Americans could be vaccinated first before sharing vaccines. Administration officials are considering where to focus their efforts, with Central America a likely candidate. US goals include competing for influence with Russia and China and combating the pandemic within populations near US borders. If vaccine diplomacy is a competition, Russia and
China have a head start. The
US is entering the game late, but reports suggest that even countries that are receiving Russian and Chinese vaccines still want US and European vaccines. It is clear that Russia, China and the US see vaccine diplomacy as a part of their geopolitical rivalries. However, this framing is unfortunate. Vaccinating the global population as quickly, effectively and safely as possible will benefit everyone. No country will be safe from COVID-19 until the pandemic ends globally.
It is time for global cooperation, not competition. Russia and China should work harder to vaccinate their own populations as well as exporting their vaccines. All countries will benefit from an effective global vaccination campaign, regardless of who provides the vaccines.
Kerry Boyd Anderson is a writer and political risk consultant with more than 16 years’ experience as a professional analyst of international security issues and Middle East political and business risk. Her previous positions include deputy director for advisory with Oxford Analytica and managing editor of Arms Control Today.