President Biden has made it a signature phrase of his administration: The world is engaged in “a battle between democracy and autocracy.”
He publicly expressed a version of this idea at least a dozen times during his first year in office and a dozen more during his second year, according to Factba.se, an online database that tracks his remarks. But Biden has used it less often during his third year in office — and he notably did not use the phrase when speaking to the United Nations General Assembly yesterday. Last year in the same setting, he did use it.
What explains the change? Biden still very much believes in the basic idea, but he and other administration officials have come to think that the framing comes with downsides.
Biden’s phrase accurately captures the leading players in the core struggle for global influence today. The U.S., Japan, South Korea, Western Europe and a few other rich countries are healthy democracies on one side of the divide. Russia and China are autocracies on the other side.
Many other countries, however, have not chosen sides. They are willing to work closely with both Washington and Beijing, depending on the issue. These countries tend to be flawed democracies (like Brazil, India, Israel and Nigeria) or autocracies (like Saudi Arabia and Vietnam). If the U.S. suggests that only democracies are welcome in its alliance, that alliance will shrink.
“Defining the current contest as one between democracies and autocracies is a flawed strategy,” Walter Russell Mead, a foreign policy expert at the Hudson Institute, wrote in The Wall Street Journal this spring. “Abroad, this approach weakens America’s ties with key allies and exposes us to devastating charges of systemic hypocrisy.” Mead is a conservative who often criticizes Biden, but some members of the administration have had similar concerns, as Peter Baker, The Times’s chief White House correspondent, has reported.
In June, Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, acknowledged the tension. “I do think we are dealing with the gathering and march of autocratic forces in ways that are not in the United States’ national interest, and that we do need to rally the values, norms and forces of democracy to push back against that,” Sullivan said. But, he added, Biden “has also been clear that in that larger effort, we need constructive relationships with countries of all different traditions and backgrounds.”
The C.I.A. and Stalin
There is, of course, a long history of the U.S. working with autocracies as part of a stated strategy of fostering democracy. Sometimes, this history has been tragic, as during the Vietnam War. Other times, the practice has aged well, such as the alliances with Stalin’s Soviet Union during World War II or with Persian Gulf kingdoms to evict Saddam Hussein from Kuwait during the 1990s.
The democracy-vs.-autocracy dichotomy has probably been most helpful in energizing Western Europe to come to Ukraine’s defense and persuading Japan and South Korea to strengthen ties as a counterweight to China. Over the past year, though, the administration has also tried to build ties with countries that are democratically weaker:
India is another potential counterweight to China, and Biden hosted its prime minister, Narendra Modi, for a warm three-day visit this year despite Modi’s crackdown on critics of his Hindu nationalist government. (This week, Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, accused India’s government of killing a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia.)
The U.S. strengthened its ties with Vietnam — which remains a one-party state — when Biden visited Hanoi this month. Both countries are worried about China’s ambitions.
Turkey, Hungary and Poland are important parts of the alliance supplying Ukraine with weapons to fight Russia.
The Biden administration is talking with Saudi officials about establishing a mutual defense treaty in which each country would promise to come to the other’s aid if attacked, my colleagues Edward Wong and Mark Mazzetti reported yesterday. The talks are part of an effort to persuade Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalize their relations.
All of this may help explain the approach Biden took at the U.N. yesterday. He continued to celebrate the virtues of democracy, saying that it “can deliver in ways that matter to people’s lives” while describing programs to build infrastructure in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Yet he did not use any versions of the words “autocracy” or “authoritarian.”
In a dangerous world, the U.S. evidently wants to woo many kinds of allies.
More from the U.N.
Biden called for collective action on Ukraine, climate change and other crises.
Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of weaponizing food and energy prices against the entire world.
Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, threatened revenge against U.S. officials for the American drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in 2020.
Kenya has offered to lead a security mission in Haiti, where gangs control parts of the capital.
THE LATEST NEWS
India and Canada
Justin Trudeau, Canada’s leader, rejected India’s denial of involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist near Vancouver. Both countries expelled diplomats as the fight escalates.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was a prominent advocate of the creation of an independent Sikh nation that would include parts of India. Read more about his life.
Politics
Hard-right House Republicans blocked a bill to fund the military, another setback for Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he tries to avert a government shutdown.
Donald Trump is said to have instructed a former aide not to tell federal investigators about the boxes of government documents he had kept at Mar-a-Lago. She told them.
Hunter Biden plans to plead not guilty to three federal charges brought against him for a 2018 gun purchase.
The governors of Iowa and Georgia criticized Trump after he called a six-week abortion ban in Florida “a terrible thing.”
Autoworkers’ Strike
The United Auto Workers union threatened to expand its strike to more plants if its contract talks with three U.S. automakers don’t move forward.
From sympathy to “You’re fired”: Republican presidential candidates are split on the strike.
International
Azerbaijan launched a military operation against Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian enclave inside its territory. Here’s a guide to the conflict.
Britain passed a sweeping law to regulate online content, introducing age-verification requirements for pornography sites.
Texas
Illegal crossings at the U.S. southern border have increased in recent weeks, stretching federal resources and overwhelming local communities.
A Texas trial over a new election law is giving voice to residents who tried and failed to vote.
Pennsylvania
Democrats maintained control of the Pennsylvania House by winning a special election in Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania, a swing state, will automatically register residents to vote when they get a driver’s license or state ID.
Housing Lawsuits
New York lawmakers are suing to block Mayor Eric Adams from using national parkland in Brooklyn for an emergency migrant shelter.
The Sacramento County district attorney has sued the city over inaction on homeless camps.
Other Big Stories
The cost of crude oil has jumped, pushing U.S. gas prices to the highest level in 11 months.
The group that won a Supreme Court case against affirmative action sued West Point, arguing it should be barred there too.
JoAnne Epps, the acting president of Temple University, died after becoming ill onstage at a memorial service. She was 72.
A 150-year-old giant banyan tree in downtown Lahaina, Hawaii, that burned during the fires is showing signs of recovery.
Customers will likely struggle to get Clorox wipes after a cyberattack at the company.
Opinions
Stop telling colleagues, “Let’s take a walk,” Lydia Polgreen writes.
Timed math tests needlessly pressure students, especially girls, whose fear of the “can’t do math” stereotype causes anxiety, Adam Grant writes.
Here’s a column by Ross Douthat on Trump’s ideological pandering.
MORNING READS
Tradition: A city in Connecticut burns Benedict Arnold, America’s most infamous traitor, in effigy each year.
Invasive species: Florida is full of animals that don’t belong there, Vox reports. Should they be kicked out?
Street looks: Has the era of peacocking during New York Fashion Week come to an end?
Lives Lived: James Hoge led both The Chicago Sun-Times and New York’s Daily News. He died at 87.
SPORTS
W.N.B.A.: The New York Liberty advanced to the semifinals after defeating the Washington Mystics, 90-85. The Dallas Wings secured their place in the other semifinal, where they will face the Las Vegas Aces.
Baseball: After surgery, Shohei Ohtani is expected to hit next season but not pitch until 2025, his agent announced.
ARTS AND IDEAS
Quiet on the set: For years, Big Hollywood productions brought money and prestige to British film crews. Now a downside has become apparent: When Hollywood goes on strike, their work stops, too. “We depend so much on U.S. studio-based productions for our work,” said Charlotte Sewell, a costume designer in London.
More on culture
YouTube blocked Russell Brand’s advertising income on its platform, days after he used it to deny accusations of sexual assault.
Jann Wenner, the Rolling Stone co-founder, ruled the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for years. His reign ended in 20 minutes.
Shakira, Karol G and Edgar Barrera lead the nominees for the Latin Grammy Awards.
THE MORNING RECOMMENDS …
Dine at the 50 restaurants that Times editors are most excited about this year.
Lift stains with these carpet cleaners.
Charge your devices with the best USB-C cables.
GAMES
Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was expending.
And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections.
Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David
Kitty Bennett contributed research to today’s newsletter.
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