World 'turning the tide' toward democracy, says US President Biden

Efforts to strengthen democracies around the globe are working and the world is turning the tide towards greater freedom, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday as he sought to assure that democratic institutions work.

Addressing his second global summit on democracy, Biden also announced that the US intends to commit USD 9.5 billion to advance democracy around the world.

At the time of the first summit in December of 2021, the sentiment in too many places around the world was that democracy's best days were behind.

Democracy had declined by some measures for 15 consecutive years. But this year, we can say there's a different story to tell, Biden said.

Thanks to the commitment, thanks to the commitment of leaders of global -- gathered today and the persistence of people in every region of the world demanding their rights be respected and their voices being heard, we're seeing real indications, real indications that we're turning the tide here, he said.

Biden led a virtual summit