India-US partnership is crucial for maintaining the balance of power in Asia. This is the reason why some of us have been a big advocate of strong bilateral ties. The partnership never guaranteed humanitarian assistance from the US to India. 1/3

Having said that, the abysmal response of the US govt— not allowing the export of vaccine raw materials, not allowing export of surplus, and unapproved (in US), vaccines, no statement of solidarity from the top leaders (an Indian-American VP?)—is massively disappointing.2/3

Again, the partnership will still serve to maintain balance of power. The partnership was never meant for humanitarian assistance. But something about this partnership appears grating at the moment. The advocates of strong India-US ties, including myself, should take a relook.3/3