Thursday morning, Biden is set to deliver opening remarks at a virtual Summit for Democracy and participate in a leaders’ plenary session during Thursday’s program.

Summit for Democracy is hosting over 100 governments, members of civil society and the private sector around what the President has called “the challenge of our time,” in upholding democracy all around the world.

Some countries not invited: China, Russia, Hungary- the only member of the European Union not invited to the summit- Turkey.

The summit will focus on three themes: “defending against authoritarianism, fighting corruption, and advancing respect for human rights.”

A senior administration official said “the United States is approaching the summit from a place of humility” and “will announce new initiatives and commitments to bolstering free and independent media, fighting corruption, defending free and fair elections, strengthening democratic reformers, and harnessing technology for democratic renewal”. Ahead of the summit, the administration launched the first-ever U.S. National Strategy on Countering Corruption.

President Biden is slated to speak at 8 am ET. Watch live event in the player below.

Yesterday, Secretary Blinken delivered his remarks ahead of the Summit for Democracy on the importance of media freedom and safety worldwide.

A senior administration official explained this week : “From President Biden down, we’ve made clear that no democracy, including the United States, is perfect. And we’ve been clear that all too many governments around the world are experiencing forms of democratic backsliding. I think you’re going to hear that as a key theme in the summit itself. And in instances in which democratic governments have violated human rights or taken steps to curtail democratic institutions, the Biden administration has spoken up both publicly and privately.” 

Today, the leaders will be speaking as follow, most of them were pre-recorded: 

8:15 am

Bulgaria
Cyprus
Estonia
Finland

8:30 am

Greece
Israel
Latvia
Lithuania

8:45 am

Moldova
Romania
Zambia
Albania

9:00 am

Angola
Austria
Belgium
Democratic Republic of the Congo

9:15 am

Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
European Union (Commission)

9:30 am

France
Italy

9:45 am – Break

10:00 am

Kosovo
Luxembourg
Malta
Montenegro
Netherlands

10:15 am

Niger
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland

10:30 am

Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia

10:45 am

Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Iceland

11:00 am – Break

11:15 am

Ireland
Liberia
Portugal
Senegal

11:30 am

United Kingdom
Belize
Costa Rica
New Zealand

11:45 am

Marshall Islands
Nauru

Next year, President Biden will host an in- person summit and countries that will be invited are the ones that lived up to the commitments made today and tomorrow.

The post WATCH: President Biden Kicks Off The Summit For Democracy appeared first on The Pavlovic Today.