Biden-Harris Administration on Thursday reaffirmed its “abiding commitment” to democratic renewal at home and abroad. President Joe Biden announced the United States is making another significant investment of up to USD 690 million in promoting democracies abroad, said John Kirby – coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council (NSC).
The new funding will be directed to the Presidential Initiative to expand new and existing programs, and policies that support free and independent media, help combat corruption, bolster democratic reformers and human rights activists, defend free and fair elections, and ensure the technology works for and not against democratic societies, Kirby noted.
At the first Summit for Democracy, held in December 2021, President Biden launched the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, an expansion of US Government efforts to defend and grow democratic resilience with likeminded partners through diplomacy and foreign assistance, according to a White House Fact Sheet.
These efforts center on five areas of work crucial to the functioning of transparent, accountable governance: advancing technology for democracy, supporting free and independent media, fighting corruption, bolstering human rights and democratic reformers, and defending free and fair elections. – KUNA