Western elites have vainly underestimated and criticised Russia’s coronavirus vaccine
As News Front previously reported, the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus Sputnik V was the first of its kind. The West tried to compromise the drug by accusing Russia of rushing it, but opinion on Sputnik V has recently changed dramatically.
Russia is now working on registering its vaccine with the European Union, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel has offered Moscow her help in doing so. States around the world are now actively purchasing the Russian vaccine.
Russia has already become a key supplier of the vaccine to Latin American countries, writes CNN. Washington, meanwhile, has to helplessly come to terms with the decline of its own influence in the region, which has always been considered the “underbelly” of the US. Thus, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Mexico have already approved the use of the Sputnik V vaccine.
Even Colombia, the closest US ally in the region, chose to abandon anti-Russian ideology, realising that Western partners were in no hurry to distribute the vaccine. Colombian authorities have decided to cooperate with Russia on the supply of vaccines, even though just a few months ago there was a scandal between the countries with the expulsion of diplomats.
Latin America is one of the regions worst hit by the pandemic. At the same time, there are fewer than 2 doses of vaccine per 100 people here. By comparison, in the EU there are 5 doses per 100 people and in the USA there are 14 doses.
Given the scale of the crisis, countries have found it easier to negotiate with the Russian state than with individual companies like Pfizer. For example, Argentina refused to cooperate with an American company and bought 25 million doses of Russian vaccine because it was much easier.
In such circumstances, new foreign policy opportunities are opening up for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to CNN, citing analysts. Vaccine deliveries are doing very well for the image of Russia, which the West has so persistently tried to demonise. Remarkably, the US and Europe have shown unacceptable selfishness in distributing vaccines in the face of the pandemic.
“The world has been multipolar for quite some time now, and in this environment Russia and China are strengthening their positions, and rapidly. The vaccine situation only contributes to this trend”, – a Bolivian diplomat told CNN in a commentary.