U.S. and Allies To Host Second Democracy Summit In March

The White House on Tuesday announced it will co-host a second summit on democracy in March, following up on efforts to push back on authoritarianism and present a united front among democratic nations, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The summit will be held March 29 to March 30 in a virtual format, and will be followed by hybrid gatherings with representatives from government, civil society and the private sector participating. Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Zambia and South Korea will act as other co-hosts. Other key details, including the full list of participating states, are yet to be determined.

"We are living through an era defined by challenges to accountable and transparent governance," the five co-host countries said in a joint statement. "From wars of aggression to changes in climate, societal mistrust and technological transformation, it could not be clearer that all around the world, democracy needs champions at all levels. Together with other invitees to the second Summit, we look forward to taking up this call, and demonstrating how transparent, accountable governance remains the best way to deliver lasting prosperity, peace, and justice."

Speaking to reporters Monday afternoon, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre quoted President Biden as saying "we know democracy remains the best tool humankind has to unleash our collective potential and deliver our security and prosperity for all."

"That's why [Biden] has made strengthening democracy a cornerstone of both his domestic and international agenda," she added.

The March summit is a follow-up on an event that President Joe Biden hosted in December 2021 with more than 100 leaders to begin a global conversation about how best to halt democracy's backsliding, which led to more than 700 commitments intended to strengthen and safeguard democracy.

Note that Azerbaijan was not among the 110 invitees during the first Democracy Summit. The final list also left out several ostensible U.S. partners such as Turkey, while Georgia and Armenia were the only Caucasian countries in the list. Putin’s Russia wasn't invited either.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.