The US uses its veto on the UN Security Council to protect its client state Israel amid the criminal bombardment of Gaza, while Russia and China pose as protectors of the Palestinians. In Burma, the situation is precisely reversed: Russia and China protect the brutal junta on the Security Council, while the US and UK pose as protectors of the pro-democratic resistance. Yet another example of how a global divide-and-rule racket is the essence of the state system. Bill Weinberg dissects the mutual imperial hypocrisy in Episode 206 of the CounterVortex podcast.

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CounterVortex Podcast

The Burmese struggle in the Great Game

Pete Hegseth’s decision to scrap the Women, Peace and Security agenda from the Pentagon came as a surprise given that the Women, Peace and Security Act was signed by Donald Trump in his first mandate as President of the United States. However, this decision cannot be understood in a vacuum and is part of a wider movement targeting diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the US military and elsewhere. 

It is also significant that this decision came when Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security from the United Nations Security Council is celebrating its 25th anniversary and countries across Europe are boosting their defence budgets. But this doesn’t mean that we are also seeing an increase in the attention and money being provided to WPS projects. Quite the opposite. And even though Resolution 1325 was successful in starting conversations on why we need to include gender perspectives in peace and security, the work is far from complete. 

To discuss the broader implications of Hegseth’s decision, host Catarina Vila Nova sat down with Floor Keuleers, Senior Analyst for Gender and Conflict at the International Crisis Group. 

If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org

Policy Voices | With dwindling US support, what is the future of the WPS agenda?

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