The leader of the United States, Joe Biden, hosted a second Summit for Democracy, following a hopeful message he delivered in the State of the Union address. He stated that nations valuing democracy are strengthening their systems, even as autocracies face ongoing pressures. The virtual gathering aimed to promote voluntary commitments without a binding mechanism to enforce democratic standards, which raised skepticism among observers about its effectiveness.
A notable tension during the summit involved the United States and Israel. Biden publicly expressed concern about proposed judicial reforms in Israel, suggesting that the current path could not continue. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by rejecting perceived pressure from allies. Netanyahu later contributed a video asserting that Israel remains a strong democracy amid a highly contentious public debate, insisting that democracy means both the will of the people and the protection of civil and individual rights.
Other tensions shadowing Biden’s optimistic outlook included developments in Mexico, where reforms are advancing in ways that may affect electoral oversight, and concerns about India after the expulsion of the opposition leader from Parliament. Brazil also faced political upheaval earlier in the year reminiscent of the U.S. Capitol incident, underscoring broader regional instability.
Participants questioned the summit’s usefulness, a concern Biden had addressed during the campaign as part of his broader foreign policy agenda. Washington expanded the event’s reach by inviting four new countries—South Korea, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, and Zambia—while continuing to organize related events. The session, which ran over several days, involved discussions with representatives from roughly 120 countries, though Hungary and Türkiye, two NATO members, did not participate, and Pakistan initially declined, a move interpreted by some as a gesture to avoid provoking China.
commitments
For the Biden administration, the summit serves to reinforce alliances and project ongoing support for democratic progress. The president announced plans to allocate 690 million dollars over the next two years to the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, building on funding announced at the first summit. Washington stated that these funds will support a free, open environment, anti-corruption efforts, democratic reformers, and human rights with a focus on technology-enabled, transparent, and fair elections.
A further announcement touched on technology, outlining an agreement with ten countries to curb the use of surveillance tools. This came shortly after an executive order restricting U.S. agencies from employing spyware that could be used to track activists, journalists, and dissidents, signaling a broader push for responsible tech governance.
Despite these initiatives, critics charged that U.S. diplomacy remains inconsistent on human rights issues. Some pointed to engagements with Saudi Arabia and questioned whether promises to sanction or ostracize certain states would be upheld in practice, as past commitments did not always translate into concrete actions.
Ukraine
The war unleashed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has dominated discussions at the summit. In a joint session, the Ukrainian president urged continued support for arming Kyiv and rejected proposals for negotiated settlement with Moscow. He warned against romanticizing reconciliation with what he termed violent aggression and stressed that democracy must stand against authoritarian forces rather than seek compromises with them.