US Reveals Agenda Ahead of Third Summit for Democracy in South Korea
Key officials from the United States have shed light on the upcoming third Summit for Democracy, set to convene in Seoul, South Korea from March 18th to 20th.
During a briefing at the Washington Foreign Press Center on Wednesday, Maher Bitar, Deputy Assistant to the President and NSC Coordinator for Intelligence and Defense Policy, emphasized the summit’s role in promoting and safeguarding democratic values.
According to Bitar, “The participation of the U.S. in the summit includes expanded support to free and independent media, concrete actions to combat corruption, additional resources dedicated to bolstering human rights and democratic reformers, and our continued focus on free and fair elections globally.”
Bitar elaborated on comprehensive measures undertaken by the U.S. Government to counter the misuse of commercial spyware, emphasizing its significance not only as a national security concern but also as a threat to democracy and human rights globally.
She outlined initiatives such as an international joint statement with 10 likeminded partners and new guiding principles on government use of surveillance technologies.
Highlighting a pivotal aspect of the U.S. agenda, Kelly Razzouk, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for Democracy and Human Rights, revealed plans for a high-level event addressing the misuse of commercial spyware.
Razzouk stated, “For the U.S. high-level event at the summit, we have decided for the first time to convene a meeting on the topic of the misuse of commercial spyware. This issue has been a priority for the Biden administration.”
Excel Magazine International reports that the U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, aims to showcase U.S. leadership in bolstering democratic resilience worldwide.
The briefing addressed questions from journalists regarding the role of host country South Korea, discussions on North Korea’s human rights violations, and concerns about the misuse of commercial spyware by certain governments.
Despite challenges and regional complexities, the U.S. officials expressed commitment to advancing the principles of democracy and human rights through international collaboration.
