Washington, Feb 25 (NationPress) The United States is strategically leveraging democracy promotion as a vital aspect of its national security framework, according to lawmakers and officials from the Trump Administration. They identified the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) as a key mechanism for promoting American interests on the global stage.

During a recent oversight hearing on Capitol Hill, leading lawmakers analyzed the alignment between supporting democratic institutions abroad and the broader objectives of foreign policy as well as the geopolitical struggle against authoritarian regimes.

The hearing, organized by the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, centered on NED's mission and activities, which lawmakers characterized as integral to the US's national security approach.

Subcommittee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart emphasized that NED is “a crucial tool in advancing the administration’s foreign policy goals,” including “upholding international religious freedom in nations such as Nigeria, Nicaragua, and Communist China, as well as aiding those who fight for freedom in places like Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.”

He articulated that democracy and human rights are “essential components of our foreign policy and national security,” stressing that NED and “programs promoting accountable democracy are vital for countering adversaries, advancing US national security interests, and supporting those striving for freedom.”

Diaz-Balart noted that NED was established in the 1980s “to combat the then-evil empire of the Soviet Union,” asserting that even though the Soviet Union has dissolved, “the threats to freedom and security have persisted and evolved significantly.”

Ranking Member Lois Frankel described democracy support as a proactive security measure. “Promoting democratic institutions is not merely charitable; it’s a preventative measure for our national security, and it’s cost-effective,” she stated, adding that “the funds allocated for democracy support are minimal compared to what we spend when instability escalates into conflict.”

Frankel acknowledged those who criticize democracy promotion as serving US geopolitical interests but maintained that NED’s operations are “independent, transparent, Congressionally sanctioned, and based on universal principles.”

Damon Wilson, President and CEO of NED, informed lawmakers that “aiding those in pursuit of freedom is a strategic investment in US national and economic security.”

“Where democratic institutions and free markets are fragile, we see the rise of conflict, drug and human trafficking, terrorism, refugee crises, and coercive economic practices,” Wilson remarked. “When citizens can influence their futures, these societies become more stable partners for the United States.”

He directly tied democracy promotion to global geopolitical competition. “NED counters America’s rivals by assisting partners to develop effective democracies and safeguard fundamental freedoms despite increasing repression,” he stated.

Referring to the situation in Ukraine, Wilson noted, “NED’s initiatives help Ukrainians resist Kremlin aggression.” On the topic of China, he highlighted that “NED aided researchers in uncovering over 100 CCP police stations across 53 nations aimed at silencing dissent.”

In Bolivia, he mentioned, “NED partners played a pivotal role in preventing the world’s largest lithium deposits from coming under Moscow’s and Beijing’s influence.”

Wilson characterized their efforts as cost-effective, revealing to lawmakers that “$0.84 of every dollar is allocated directly to frontline efforts, positioning NED as one of the most efficient national security investments.”

The National Endowment for Democracy was established by Congress in 1983 during the Cold War as a publicly funded yet formally independent nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting global democratic movements.