Summit for democracy: US views India as an 'indispensable partner', says top US official

As President Joe Biden-led United States ministration looks to host ir first “Summit for Democracy” this week, US has said that India is an “indispensable partner” for democratic cooperation. comment from a top state official comes ahe of India’s appearance in virtual garing of more than one hundred countries. During event, countries will discuss challenges faced by democracy and ways to boost ideals of democracy around world.

Summit for Democracy scheduled for December 9 and 10, will see various stakeholders of democracies come toger to discuss many topics relating to democracy. State leers, civil society and private sector representatives will take part in forum, which US sees as a “galvanizing moment” for world’s democracies to come toger. Ahe of this, US officials have now termed India as a major unavoidable player in same.

“To work toger to defend against authoritarianism, to elevate fight against corruption, and to vance human rights both at home and abro, we see India indispensable in this effort,” Under-Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya told ANI. “We are determined and we are optimistic that working with Democratic partners like India and partners from all over world, we can turn tide on se issues and truly show that democracy can apt and can rise to 21st-century challenges and ultimately prevail,” Zeya ded.

China, Russia unhappy being excluded from summit 

Beijing and Moscow, h earlier denounced summit as an “exercise in hypocrisy” to promote US hegemony after both China and Russia were excluded from garing. virtual garing also garnered criticism from China for being a ‘strategy to divide Asia’ after India’s closest democratic neighbours like Banglesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan were excluded too. Responding to allegations over summit being a problematic move by US, Under-Secretary said that summit was being held to achieve a bro, global geographic representation and assess and include governments and not cause division.

“This summit is not about divisions or blocks, and in fact, our approach in participation was to try to achieve a bro, global geographic representation and assess and include governments that we see as rey to work with us on three pillars of countering authoritarianism, fighting corruption, and vancing human rights,” American diplomat said.

China mocks US democracy 

Earlier, while dressing reporters in Beijing, vice-minister said that US h dropped China "intentionally" as Communist government les country to become a superpower. According to him, US is "frustrated" to witness China "transforming into a superpower country". Mocking US' democratic system, Lin said that political disputes and a divided government led to high death toll during COVID-19 pandemic. "Such democracy brings not happiness but disaster to voters," AP quoted Lin as saying. 

It should be mentioned here that US President Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping h held a virtual summit last month. Despite meeting, difference between two countries appears to be widening. invitation of Taiwan- a self-governing democracy that China claims as its own - to Summit has furr deteriorated relations between Washington and Beijing.

(With agency inputs)

Image: AP/ ANI