State Secretary Rubio on US Plans to Support International Freedom and Democracy Programs

US Foreign Policy and Democracy Promotion

• 💡 The US must recognize that relationships with non-democratic countries can be crucial for geopolitical interests, citing Saudi Arabia as an example of a strategic partner despite not being a democracy.
• 🎯 Support for vibrant democracy development is seen as an opportunity in regions like the Western Hemisphere.
• 🔑 The effectiveness of democracy promotion programs needs to be evaluated, questioning if they are achieving tangible outcomes after extended periods.

Evaluating Democracy Programs

• 🔬 Programs should be reviewed to ensure funds are spent on the right initiatives, with the right partners, and in the right way.
• ⚠️ A program's success is measured by its ability to promote democracy and pluralism, not just by having an impressive title.
• ⏳ If democracy promotion efforts in a society show no advances after 20 years, a critical assessment of their efficacy is necessary.

Support for Freedom Abroad

• 🌍 The US has historically supported democracy programs, but some were terminated during an assistance review, impacting national security.
• 🇺🇸 The administration plans to re-engage in supporting freedom globally in the correct manner.
• 🤝 The US is open to supporting efforts that bring together diverse societal elements, such as in Syria, provided programs have a chance to succeed and are not merely contracts for NGOs.

Iran Nuclear Deal and Sanctions

• ⚛️ A key flaw in the previous Iran JCPOA was its omission of Iran's ballistic missiles and support for terrorism.
• 🚫 The current administration's stance is that Iran cannot have an enrichment capability to become a nuclear power.
• ⚖️ Sanctions related to terrorism and ballistic missiles will remain in place if not addressed in any deal, with enrichment capability being the critical issue.