Covid-19 Vaccine Diplomacy as a Soft Power Tool: A Comparative Study of China, Russia and India

Abstract

Regarding the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic China, Russia, and India have employed Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy strategies to enhance their soft power influence on the international stage. China has partnered with over 20 developing countries, enhancing the mercerization of its vaccines. India supplied 60 million doses abroad in mid- March 2021, bilaterally supplying vaccines to 48 countries. Russia has pledged to provide the Russian vaccine to anyone and UN staff for free, and the Russian Direct Investment Fund promotes Sputnik V abroad. This research aims to address this gap by conducting a comparative analysis of China, Russia, and India's Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy initiatives, with a focus on understanding the challenges and opportunities they pose in reshaping international relations and perceptions of these nations as global actors. The Objectives of this research are analyse and compare the strategies employed by China, Russia, and India in their Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy efforts , measure the effectiveness of these strategies in enhancing their soft power, building international alliances, and achieving diplomatic goals. This research topic is significant as it examines the multifaceted role of vaccine diplomacy in international relations, with a focus on major global players, contributing to a better understanding of the evolving dynamics of diplomacy in the 21st century. This study use mixed method by using primary and secondary data. The Study's findings suggest that their strategies of vaccine diplomacy are enabled as well as constrained by their economic realities, and the rise of these countries in this field does not necessarily mean an outright challenge to the existing international system.