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Despite Beijing's resolute opposition to the United States' first virtual Summit for Democracy, U.S. President Joe Biden kicked off the virtual summit with more than 100 world leaders in attendance.
He stressed that the world must commit to bolstering democracy as he touched upon a battery of challenges confronting democratic nations.
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U.S. President Joe Biden laid bare the health of global democracy on the first day of the two-day virtual Summit for Democracy hosted by the White House.
While expressing concerns over a lack of effort to counter authoritarian regimes, Biden announced plans for the U.S. to spend up to 424 million USD around the world to support independent media, anti-corruption work and a slew of other initiatives pertaining to maintaining democracy worldwide.
In his rhetoric, Biden didn't allude to China or Russia. Be that as it may, he repeatedly made a case that the U.S. and like-minded allies never buckle under pressure from autocracies.
At the same time, Biden made a cast-iron guarantee that the Biden administration will adopt a more eclectic approach and will be more outward- and forward-looking than the previous Trump administration.
Pundits say his speech today is a litmus test of his opinion on dealing with China and Russia during his tenure.
Other leaders at the summit also delivered their own remarks, many pre-recorded. Not only did they acknowledge the formidable stress that technology evolving apace is having on every nook and cranny of the world, but they lamented the increase in disinformation campaigns and interference in institutions and elections as well.
In today's virtual summit, two major players in the world's playing field were conspicuously absent. Both Beijing and Moscow were not invited to the meeting, as the United States is still at odds with both countries over a variety of issues.
Prior to the meeting, the Chinese and Russian ambassadors to the U.S. penned a voluminous essay, with China sending a fusillade of warnings against the U.S., saying the U.S. is too dyed-in-the-wool to espouse multilateralism. They added this will only further widen the chasm between different countries around the world.
Today's meeting came as Biden is pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to back down on the heels of a massive buildup of troops on the Ukrainian border that raised a few eyebrows.
Critics, though, find the time at which the virtual meeting is held a bit embarrassing, as what have been happening and developing in Biden's backyard speak volumes. From local officials resigning, simmering tensions between the U.S. and China, to the political fallout from the January 6 insurrection.
In addition, Hungary, the only countries not invited and whose Prime Minister was belittled by Biden as a thug, expressed outrage that the EU Commission's President still represented the EU at the summit.
Suffice it to say, the President will have his hands full shoring up democracy at home and dealing with the perfect storm in his backyard after he wraps up the two-day virtual summit tomorrow.
Leaders partaking in the summit are also expected to touch upon a battery of other issues such as human rights issues in Xinjiang.
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