President Biden starts his second democracy summit with $690M pledge

KARAH RUCKER: PRESIDENT BIDEN IS KICKING OFF HIS SECOND SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY TODAY – PLEDGING NEARLY 700 MILLION DOLLARS TOWARD BOLSTERING OTHER NATION’S DEMOCRACIES.

MORE THAN 100 GLOBAL LEADERS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND. THE SUMMIT WILL LAST TWO DAYS – WITH THE GOAL OF STRENGTHENING LIKE-MINDED GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE GLOBE – AND ADVOCATING FOR REFORMS IN AUTO-CRATIC LEANING NATIONS.

THE 690 MILLION DOLLARS WILL FUND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT A FREE MEDIA, COMBAT CORRUPTION, ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND SUPPORT FAIR ELECTIONS.

BIDEN HELD HIS FIRST DEMOCRACY SUMMIT IN DECEMBER OF 2021.

THE OUTLOOK OF THE WORLD HAS TAKEN A TUMULTUOUS TURN SINCE.

RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE – THE LARGEST SCALE WAR IN EUROPE SINCE WORLD WAR 2. U.S. RELATIONS WITH CHINA ARE STRAINED ON SEVERAL FRONTS – INCLUDING NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS AND HEIGHTENED MILITARY DRILLS OVER TAIWAN’S SOVEREIGNTY.

THEN NORTH KOREA IS ALSO AT A MILITARY PEAK – THREATENING THE U.S. OVER ITS ALLIANCE WITH SOUTH KOREA.

BIDEN’S PUSH TO ADVANCE FREE SOCIETIES IN THE WORLD HAS STRUCK A NERVE WITH ADVERSARIES. AMBASSADORS FROM CHINA AND RUSSIA HAVE PREVIOUSLY CRITICIZED BIDEN’S DEMOCRACY SUMMITS – ACCUSING BIDEN OF CAUSING A GLOBAL DIVIDE AND HAVING A “COLD WAR MENTALITY.”