Right now, the entire world is fighting a new invisible enemy and thousands of lives are lost daily, besides huge economic losses are piling up. Once the Covid-19 pandemic is over for good, it would have changed the world forever. Social distancing, wearing masks, remote working, government controls are becoming normal. Health care workers, first responders, police and essential services workers are becoming newly defined heroes and life savers. Some of them have sacrificed their lives fighting Coronavirus. Global supply chain issues, layoffs, furloughs, productivity losses, closures, and uncertainty causing economy in a dire situation.

This global pandemic will shake up many areas including business, political, culture and society. Supply chain has become an issue that will shape alliances in the coming decade. Dependable, redundant and resilient supply chain system is very important for any country.

No one could have imagined that any war or natural calamity could inflict so much damage to the countries in such a short span. More than 3 million people got infected and more than 215,000 people have died around the world.

World Health Organization (WHO) has utterly failed to communicate in time the warnings of the impact of this pandemic to the world and how to take the necessary steps to control it. Whatever the reasons may be, countries need to take a hard look at the WHO’s role and how it is being used by some countries to conceal information of the origin and mechanism of the spread of Coronavirus.

There are a lot of questions surrounding the origin of this deadly virus, and how much and when China shared the information to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Censorship of medical facilities in Wuhan, questionable number of deaths in China, defective equipment supplied did not help China’s image around the world. Many countries, like Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Czechoslovakia, Turkey and others complained about the Chinese made Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) to fight the pandemic. 

Our way of life has been disrupted by this pandemic. Terrorism and pandemic are the major challenges that we faced in the last few decades. China’s dubious role in supporting Pakistan’s state sponsored terrorism and its defiance despite repeated warnings to shutdown wet markets in China led us to believe that China is not serious about protecting lives if its goals aren’t met.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that there is enormous evidence that the virus originated in a research lab in Wuhan. Global backlash against China is already building for its initial mishandling of the Coronavirus crisis. Chinese diplomats and media have made things worse by making outrageous statements. Chinese diplomat charged that French has deliberately left their older residents to die in nursing homes.

US, India, and world economies are hit hard by this pandemic. The US has been an undisputed world leader. This novel coronavirus will not change such a dominant position in any time soon. The US has an opportunity to realign its priorities in the post-Covid19 world order.

Novel coronavirus pandemic provides an opportunity to reassess how US, India and other countries can work together not only to stop this virus, but also how to deal with similar pandemic in future. Oldest and largest democracies of the world, US and India have responsibilities to protect the global order and preserve the democratic traditions around the world.

President Trump and Prime Minister Modi have discussed ways to cooperate to fight the pandemic. They also discussed global supply chain and how best they can cooperate. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi have taken initiatives for global corporations though G-20 and other forums.

China’s ambition to become a technology-intensive powerhouse threatens the US and West dominance in high-tech industry. Beijing has no hesitation to threaten countries to achieve its goals. For example, China recently threatened to halt supply of medicines amid Covid-19 crisis. We cannot imagine a world, where China can disrupt our way of life because China’s strategic interests are not met.

According to Watson Institute of Brown University, US has spent $6.4 trillion dollars since 2001 on war on terror. To preserve our way of life in future, we need to invest trillions of dollars on scientific research or technology. India can be an essential ally to the West in advancing research and technology. Indian has huge demographic dividend and US has the technology advantage. 75% of Indian population is below 40 years old. Both countries can make breakthroughs in the science and technology through direct and remote collaboration.

India can act as an alternative to China for redundant global supply chain of many products. A dependable and democratic ally is a much better option than an authoritative government which conceals information. Many multinational companies which have currently manufacturing units in China are looking for alternatives. India is better positioned to take advantage of the exodus. India can provide infrastructure and labor from low cost manufacturing to highly sophisticated technology hubs. India has all the ingredients to become one stop shop for the world. 

Thousands of Indian American doctors and health care workers have been working along with American health care workers in the US. We lost a few brave souls fighting the Covid-19. They are the true heroes who are saving the world.

According to Migration Policy Institute, there are more than 4 million members of Indian diaspora in the US. More than 77% of Indian diaspora have bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 29 percent of all immigrants. Most of them come from diverse linguistic backgrounds and proficient in English as compared to overall foreign-born population. Highly educated Indian diaspora can play bridge between the two democratic countries to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

India enjoys bipartisan support in the US and US has multiparty support in India. Both democracies have a responsibility to preserve democracies around the world from the authoritarian governments.

On the defense front, the United States and India concluded the first land, sea and air exercise in their history of military exchanges a few months back. The relationship is so deep that U.S. military exercises more with Indian military than any other non-NATO partner. The military trade between the US and India is expected to cross more than $25 billion over the next few years from the existing $18 billion.

Both countries along with Asian and European partners can relieve the African continent from the clutches of predatory lending and unprofitable projects under the disguise of Belt and Road initiative. The US and India are natural partners to promote common values around the world. All democratic countries must come together to save the world at such a testing time.