WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden said today in a major foreign policy speech that the struggle worldwide between democracy and autocracy is at an “inflection point.”
“In too many places, including in Europe and the United States, democratic progress is under assault,” Biden was to tell the Munich Security Conference, according to excerpts of his speech released by the White House.
“Historians will examine and write about this moment. It’s an inflection point. And I believe with every ounce of my being that democracy must prevail.”
The speech to the annual conference – held by video link, due to the Covid-19 pandemic – lays out Biden’s vision for a return of the United States to its traditional role as leading defender of democratic values.
Speaking shortly after a virtual summit with other leaders from the G7 group of powerful democracies, Biden was also to stress renewed US commitment to alliances, in contrast to the starkly competitive, confrontational approach of his predecessor Donald Trump.
In the excerpts released ahead of the speech, there is no direct mention of Russia or China but references to the global tussle between democratic and autocratic systems leave little doubt that Biden has them in his sights.
Since taking office last month, the Democrat has re-committed the United States to action on global warming and to the World Health Organisation. Today also marked Washington’s formal re-entry to the Paris climate accord. – AFP, February 20, 2021
