Secretary Locsin highlights continued relevance of liberalism, importance of democracy and national interest in Raisina Dialogue
"If liberalism is indeed retreating, on what basis can the world come together?" - Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. during the Raisina Dialogue 2022 panel discussion on “The Revenge of Ideology? Polarization and the Exhaustion of Ideology.” (Screengrab from Observer Research Foundation YouTube page)
NEW DELHI, 26 April 2022 – Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. shared his thoughts on the current world order and how it is still being held together by liberalism, as well as the importance of national interests at the panel discussion on “The Revenge of Ideology? Polarization and the Exhaustion of Ideology” during the Raisina Dialogue held at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi on 26 April 2022.
“Liberalism is not obsolete. The attraction of its democratic expression remains strong, it waxes and wanes. But if liberalism is indeed retreating, on what basis can the world come together? My answer, liberalism with body armor and the accoutrements of a serious fight,” Secretary Locsin explained, relating it to the current situation in Ukraine.
“The most successful free countries have – as far as I can see – no stomach for a fight. It was an alliance of totalitarianism and democracy that won World War II. Today not a single democracy has boots on Ukrainian ground,” he added.
Joining him in the panel were former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, Indian Bharatiya Janata Party National Vice President Baijavant Panda, and former United States Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute. Moderating the discussion was World is One News (WION) India Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay.
When asked about his views on how liberalism and democracy remain alive, Secretary Locsin notes that elections should always be allowed.
“While we are those who choose the next government as the majority – the winning majority – in the next election. What is important is that the mechanism is never interfered with. That everyone has a chance to take power,” he said.
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs also noted that democracies around the world will unite when their national interests are threatened.
WION India Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay (leftmost) moderated the discussion of the panel, which also consisted of (from R-L) former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, United States Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, Indian Bharatiya Janata Party National Vice President Baijavant Panda and former Canadian Prime Minister Stepehen Harmer. (Screengrab from Observer Research Foundation Youtube channel).
“It is not common democratic values that really unite us, but democracies are most likely to unite when their national interests are threatened… and that’s not anything to be embarrassed about,” Secretary Locsin said.
“Only the United States has ever invested so much treasure and blood to defend an ideal. Whether you like the wars or not, but it was for democracy,” Secretary Locsin added.
His participation in the Raisina Dialogue is part of his official visit to India from 23 to 26 April 2022. Organized in 2016, the Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics focusing on addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community.
Secretary Locsin joins 15 other ministers and high-level officials from other countries in the Dialogue. This is the second year in succession that Secretary Locsin has joined the distinguished list of speakers in the conference. Last year, he delivered an intervention virtually.
Later that day, Secretary Locsin joined other Foreign Ministers attending the dialogue in a courtesy call on Prime Minister Modi. END
Secretary Locsin conveyed President Duterte's greetings to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his April 26 call on the latter. (Photo from the Ministry of External Affairs India)