Global Leaders Sound Alarm on Rising Authoritarianism at 2026 IRF Summit
The sixth annual International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit, held in Washington on February 2–3, highlighted the tightening link between religious liberty and global security. Speakers warned that the rise of authoritarian regimes poses the single greatest threat to freedom of conscience today.
A Unified Front for Human Rights
The summit convened a broad coalition of policymakers and faith leaders, emphasizing that religious freedom is a "barometer" for all other civil liberties.
Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): Shared a message from the Dalai Lama, who defined religious freedom as the "freedom of thought" and the right to question without fear—calling it essential for human dignity.
George W. Bush: Via video, the former president expressed solidarity with those "languishing in prison" for their faith and prayed for a future where advocacy for the wrongly detained is no longer necessary.
The Link Between Tyranny and Security
Experts at the summit argued that religious persecution is rarely an isolated issue; it is a calculated tool used by autocrats to maintain power.
The "CPC" Connection: Nicole Bibbins Sedaca of the George W. Bush Institute noted that the State Department’s Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) list almost perfectly mirrors the list of nations seen as the greatest threats to global democracy.
Strategic Suppression: Authoritarian regimes view independent thought and religious belief as threats to their total control, leading them to use violence both domestically and abroad to silence dissent.
A National Security Priority: Panelists urged the U.S. to integrate religious freedom more deeply into foreign policy, noting that where religious rights are restricted, other fundamental freedoms inevitably fall next.
Policy Shifts and Funding Concerns
The summit also addressed the practicalities of U.S. advocacy during a period of significant government restructuring.
| Key Issue | Context & Impact |
| Nigeria's CPC Status | The Trump administration's decision to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC was praised for putting pressure on the government to protect vulnerable Christian and moderate Muslim communities from Islamist violence. |
| USAID Restructuring | Following the absorption of USAID into the State Department on July 1, questions remain regarding the future of funding for faith-based humanitarian groups. |
| The Rubio Doctrine | Advocates expressed optimism that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime champion of religious freedom, will ensure constructive programs remain funded despite the "messy" reorganization of foreign aid. |
"Religious freedom is a barometer... where you see restrictions on other fundamental freedoms, you then also see restrictions on religious freedom." — Scott Busby, CSIS
ABOUT The issue of international religious freedom touches every culture, nation, religion, and political system. At present, almost 80 percent of the world’s inhabitants live in countries where there are high levels of governmental or societal restrictions on religion, and restrictions have been steadily increasing for several years. The implications of this reality touches every area of life.
The IRF Summit brings together a broad coalition of partners that passionately supports religious freedom around the globe for an annual two-day in-person event in Washington, D.C. These 90+ organizations represent over 30 distinct faith traditions and are the core of the civil society movement to advance international religious freedom around the globe.
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