Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!

FILE PHOTO: A T-14 Armata main battle tank during a Victory Day military parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia. © Ramil Sitdikov / Host Photo Agency via Getty Images

HomeWorld News
8 May 2025

By Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and research director of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

Russia in Global Affairs (RGA) on Telegram

Annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

Eighty years is a long time. Over this span, the world changes beyond recognition, and events that felt close fade into legend. While history becomes distant, its imprint remains. The Second World War created a political order that shaped global affairs for decades – an order many assumed was permanent. Today, however, the world is shifting rapidly and irreversibly. The events of the first half of the 20th century remain significant, but their impact on contemporary politics has evolved.

The war’s outcome defeated Nazism and defined the modern world order. It was viewed as a near-perfect struggle against an aggressive and criminal regime, forcing nations with ideological differences to set aside disputes. The Allied powers, divided by political systems and mistrust, united out of necessity. No one joined this alliance out of goodwill; pre-war diplomacy aimed at self-preservation and deflecting consequences. However, when the threat became clear, ideological rifts temporarily bridged. This was why the post-war order proved resilient.

This framework endured the Cold War and persisted into the early 21st century, despite shifts in global power. It was held together by a shared moral narrative: the war was viewed as a struggle against absolute evil, where the Allies' divisions were secondary to their common cause. This consensus, focused on defeating Nazism and marked by events like the Nuremberg Trials, provided moral legitimacy to the post-war order.

In the 21st century, however, that shared narrative has begun to unravel. As it becomes less cohesive, the stability of the world order it helped establish also starts to decline.

Read more
Western memory of World War II is fan fiction.

A key reason is Europe’s internal transformations. In the post-Cold War era, Eastern European countries, vocal about their suffering under both Nazi and Soviet regimes, have pushed a revisionist interpretation of the war. These nations increasingly see themselves as victims of “two totalitarianisms,” placing the Soviet Union alongside Nazi Germany as perpetrators of wartime crimes. This framing undermines the consensus that puts the Holocaust at the moral center of the conflict and recognizes European nations’ complicity in it.

The influence of Eastern European perspectives has rippled through Western Europe, allowing it to dilute its wartime guilt, redistribute blame, and reshape collective memory. This leads to an erosion of the political and moral foundations established in 1945. Ironically, this revisionism—framed as a push for greater historical "balance"—weakens the liberal world order that Western powers claim to uphold. Institutions like the United Nations, a pillar of that order, rely on the moral and legal framework forged by the Allies’ victory. The Soviet Union’s significant wartime contribution and political weight were essential to this structure. As consensus around these truths fades, so do the norms and structures that arose from them.

Another critical factor has quietly played a role in the unfolding story. Over the last eight decades, the global political landscape has undergone dramatic changes. The end of colonialism led to the creation of many new nations, and the United Nations now boasts almost double the number of members compared to when it was established. While the Second World War certainly impacted nearly every part of the globe, many soldiers from the so-called Global South found themselves fighting under the flags of their colonial rulers. For these brave individuals, the meaning of the war often shifted from simply defeating fascism to grappling with the problematic reality of fighting for freedom in foreign lands while being denied that same freedom in their own countries.

This perspective reshapes historical memory. Movements seeking independence from Britain or France often viewed the Axis powers as leverage points, symbols of cracks in the colonial system. While the war is significant globally, its interpretation varies. In Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America, 20th-century milestones differ from those accepted in the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike Europe, these regions aren’t pursuing historical revisionism, but their priorities and narratives diverge from the Euro-Atlantic view.

Read more
‘They gave us bread instead of fear’: How Soviet soldiers shaped German childhoods after WWII.

None of this erases the war’s importance. The Second World War is a foundational event in international politics. The decades of peace that followed were built on a clear understanding: such devastation must never be repeated. Legal norms, diplomatic frameworks, and nuclear deterrence upheld that principle. While dangerous, the Cold War was characterized by a strategy of avoiding direct superpower conflict. Averting World War III was a significant achievement.

Today, the post-war toolkit is in crisis. The institutions and agreements that guaranteed stability are fraying. To prevent breakdown, we must recall the ideological and moral consensus that united the world’s major powers. This isn’t nostalgia – it’s about understanding the stakes and why they matter. Without renewed commitment to these principles, no military hardware or technical measures will ensure lasting global stability.

Victory Day serves as a reminder of the heavy price of peace and the risks associated with overlooking its foundations. As the global political scene continues to evolve, this lesson remains critically important.

This article was originally published in the newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta and was translated and edited by the RT team.

What is the Side of the Story that is Not Yet Decisive? Edited by Abraham A. van Kempen

UNDERSTANDING RUSSOPHOBIA: EMBRACING THE POLITICS OF FEAR

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Lord Robert Skidelsky

Watch the Video Here (33 minutes, 36 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
13 May 2025

Lord Robert Skidelsky, a member of the British House of Lords and Professor Emeritus of Political Economy, is the acclaimed author of a three-volume biography of John Maynard Keynes that has won awards.

He started his political journey in the Labour Party, co-founded the Social Democratic Party, and acted as the Conservative Party’s spokesman for Treasury matters in the House of Lords until he was dismissed for opposing NATO’s bombing of Kosovo in 1999.

Since 2001, he has served in the House of Lords as an independent.

BRICS VERSUS THE WEST – WHAT’S NEXT?

Prof. Glenn Diesen interviewed on Think BRICS.

Watch the Video Here (38 minutes, 16 seconds)

Host Benjamin Epstein
Think BRICS
14 May 2025

Professor Glenn Diesen highlights the EU's legitimacy crisis and illustrates how BRICS is transforming global power dynamics in opposition to Western dominance.

This Think Bricks interview explores the failure of Ukraine peace talks and the foreign policy difficulties faced by Trump in our increasingly multipolar world. In this insightful discussion, Norwegian political scientist Glenn Diesen evaluates the escalating legitimacy crisis in the European Union, emphasizing how EU leaders are targeting opposition parties and sidelining national interests to preserve Western dominance.

Diesen analyzes the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting they are set up for failure as Ukraine aims to involve the US more in the conflict. The conversation explores Trump's tariff approach towards China, detailing how the weaponization of the dollar speeds up global de-dollarization efforts.

Diesen offers deep insights into BRICS' anti-hegemonic (not anti-American) characteristics, highlighting how this decentralized forum leverages economic connectivity to bridge political divides among competing states.

The discussion concludes with an optimistic outlook on Western countries potentially joining the BRICS, shifting from zero-sum security politics towards a more inclusive global framework.

UKRAINE PEACE TALKS OR POLITICAL THEATRE?

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Ian Proud

Watch the Video Here (31 minutes, 02 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
13 May 2025

Ian Proud served in His Majesty's Diplomatic Service from 1999 until 2023. He worked as a senior officer at the British Embassy in Moscow between July 2014 and February 2019, during a period marked by significant tensions in UK-Russia relations.

He assumed various positions in Moscow, such as Head of Chancery, Economic Counsellor (tasked with advising UK Ministers on economic sanctions), Chair of the Crisis Committee, Director of the Diplomatic Academy for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Vice Chair of the Board at the Anglo-American School.

THE LIES WE TELL OURSELVES ABOUT CHINA

Prof. Glenn Diesen with US Ambassador (retired) Chas Freeman – US tells itself lies about China, which results in self-harm. Opportunities for cooperation are wasted, and conflicts are unnecessarily pursued.

Watch the Video Here (54 minutes, 16 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
13 May 2025

Retired US Ambassador Chas Freeman contends that the US deludes itself about China, leading to self-inflicted harm as it squanders opportunities for collaboration and unreasonably engages in conflicts.

From 1993 to 1994, Ambassador Freeman served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, receiving the Department of Defense's highest public service awards for his efforts in shaping a NATO-focused post-Cold War European security framework and for revitalizing defense and military ties with China.

He acted as the U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He also served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, playing a key role in the historic U.S. mediation for Namibian independence from South Africa and the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola.

Ambassador Freeman served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the American embassies in both Bangkok (1984-1986) and Beijing (1981-1984). He held the position of Director for Chinese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1979 to 1981.

Notably, he was the chief American interpreter for President Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972.

Alongside his diplomatic experience in the Middle East, Africa, East Asia, and Europe, he also served in India.

HAARETZ COLUMNIST GIDEON LEVY: GAZA BURNS AND ISRAEL TURNS ON ITSELF

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Israeli journalist Gideon Levy

Watch the Video Here (35 minutes, 22 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
15 May 2025

Gideon Levy is an Israeli journalist, author, and columnist at Haaretz Israel. Levy describes how genocide has become normalised and the internal problems that are building within Israel.

GADDAFI WARNED THEM. NOW THE EU IS LIVING OUT HIS GRIM PROPHECY

Europe attempts to resolve migration issues it created by transferring the burden to Africa.

© RT / RT

By Tamara Ryzhenkova, orientalist, senior lecturer at the Department of History of the Middle East, St. Petersburg State University, expert for the ‘Arab Africa’ Telegram channel

HomeAfrica
12 May 2025

Annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

The migration crisis on Europe’s southern borders has been brewing for decades and has now reached a breaking point. To halt the flow of refugees, the EU is shifting responsibility to third countries, mainly unstable African states.

Libya exemplifies the outcome of these policies. Approximately 4 million African migrants reside there without legal status, over half of the 7.5 million official population. After Western intervention, Libya has turned into a launchpad for millions attempting to reach Europe.

READ MORE: Brutally murdered 13 years ago, this leader is only growing more beloved

The European Union has forged agreements with African and Middle Eastern countries to keep migrants farther from its borders through financial incentives and political pressure.

“Tomorrow, Europe might no longer be European, and even black”

The critical situation in Libya results from Europe’s long-term efforts to contain migration. As of 2023, the EU had a population of 448.8 million, comprising 27.3 million non-EU citizens and 42.4 million born outside the bloc.

Despite a recent decline, illegal border crossings remain a significant issue. Frontex reported that in January–February 2025, illegal crossings dropped by 25% to about 25,000. Main routes now run through West Africa and the Central Mediterranean, with migrants mainly from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mali, and other countries.

The threat of migration has loomed over Europe for years. Recall the warnings of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi during a 2010 meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi:

“Tomorrow Europe might no longer be European, and even black, as there are millions who want to come in.”

In 2011, months before his death, Gaddafi warned Tony Blair that his ousting would lead to chaos in Libya, empower terrorists, and cause new migration waves to Europe.

FILE PHOTO. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (L) and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) attend the Italia-Libya friendship day ceremony at Salvo D'Acquisto barracks on August 30, 2010, in Rome, Italy. © Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images

Predictions proved accurate: after the civil war and NATO intervention, Libya descended into anarchy and became a key transit hub for refugees.

Libya’s reality: Camps, slavery, and death at sea

Libya’s Ministry of Internal Affairs reports over 4 million foreigners in the country, mainly undocumented. Many are detained in centers that have become little more than prisons amid lawlessness, drug trafficking, and armed clashes.

International organizations have documented slave markets and abductions of migrants for forced labor or ransom. Those who fail to reach Europe face two options: deportation or death in the Mediterranean.

UNICEF reports that over 2,200 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean in 2024, including about 1,700 on the central route. Children and teenagers made up around one-fifth of the casualties.

FILE PHOTO. Migrants at a shelter in the al-Karam region of the city of Misurata in Libya, May 9, 2015. © Hazem Turkia/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

During a March 17 meeting at the Ministry of Interior in Tripoli, Minister Emad Al-Trabelsi stated that Libya cannot cope alone due to internal security and economic issues. He urged Western countries, along with EU diplomats, African Union officials, and representatives from IOM and UNHCR, to strengthen Libya’s southern borders, supply modern migration control equipment, and provide broader support.

READ MORE: Néocolonialisme: France made ‘the largest marine cemetery in the world’ to contain Russia and China

The Mattei Plan and Migrant Offshoring: Europe’s New Reality

Italy, a primary destination for migrants, seeks to change the situation. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed the Mattei Plan – a multibillion-euro initiative to invest in energy, agriculture, water supply, healthcare, and education in African countries.

Named after Eni founder Enrico Mattei, the plan aims to promote economic development in Africa, thereby reducing the incentives for migration.

Italy is also using another tool – “offshoring” migrants, relocating them to third countries.

Australia has sent asylum seekers to Nauru since 2012, and European countries are now adopting similar approaches.

Albania may become a hub for migrant processing due to Italian efforts. Under Meloni’s plan, two migrant screening centers will be established in Albania, a non-EU member state, and operated by Rome. The goal is to keep asylum seekers out of Italy and the EU.

According to the November 2023 migration cooperation protocol between Italy and Albania, two centers have been set up in Shengjin and Gjader for migrants awaiting asylum decisions or potential deportation. The agreement permits the relocation of up to 36,000 migrants to Albania each year.

Attempts to transfer refugees have been overturned in court. In October and November 2024, Italy was required to return refugees from Egypt and Bangladesh, as courts determined that returning them would threaten their lives. This finding is crucial for granting asylum status, which must be decided in Italy.

The UK and the collapse of the Rwanda plan

The UK’s plan to deport migrants to Rwanda exemplifies offshoring. Launched by Boris Johnson in 2022, it aimed to deport those who arrived illegally forcibly.

READ MORE: Why Zelensky suddenly remembered Africa exists

In April 2024, the first migrant was flown to Rwanda under a “voluntary scheme” offering up to £3,000 to participants. However, on his first day in office, new Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared the plan “dead and buried,” citing its inefficiency: it impacted less than 1% of illegal migrants over several years.

Meanwhile, crossings of the English Channel rise: over 5,000 since early 2025 and more than 120,000 since 2018.

Europe’s deals with Tunisia, Mauritania, and Egypt

The EU signed agreements with African countries, including one with Tunisia (€1.1 billion) in July 2023, another with Mauritania (€210 million) in March 2024, and a third with Egypt shortly after, potentially totaling up to €5 billion by 2027. While officially focused on macroeconomic stability, green energy, and trade, the aim is to curb irregular migration.

FILE PHOTO. African migrants at a shelter in the al-Karam region of the city of Misurata in Libya, before their distribution to refugee camps on May 9, 2015. © Hazem Turkia/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

In exchange for border control assistance, African countries may seek political concessions, including an end to the negative media portrayal of Tunisian President Kais Saied and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as human rights violators, and a reduction in support for opposition figures in Europe.

READ MORE: The myth of overpopulation: More people in Africa are the solution, not the problem

Mauritania and the Atlantic route: The new frontier

As anti-migrant policies in Libya tighten, EU asylum seekers seek new routes. Frontex reports that Mauritania is a key transit hub for migrants heading to Europe, explaining the 18% increase in Atlantic route migration from West Africa to the Canary Islands in 2024.

Mauritania seeks to derive greater benefits from its cooperation with Europe. In September 2024, the government urged the EU to fulfill the March migration declaration, including easing visa procedures for Mauritanians and waiving visas for diplomats.

Mauritanian officials stressed that the country will fully cooperate in battling illegal migration only once these conditions are met. The agreement must benefit both sides: the EU seeks to curtail Atlantic migration to Spain, while Mauritania desires investments, job creation, and better visa access to the EU.

FILE PHOTO. Refugees wait to board a rescue vessel belonging to Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms, after sailing out of control in the Mediterranean Sea near Libya on Thursday, June 15, 2017. © Marcus Drinkwater/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Libya’s situation illustrates that while there are potential advantages, nations that accept migrants often face challenges that worsen their vulnerable economic and security conditions. North African countries find themselves trapped by the agreement, shouldering the responsibility of housing, registering, and managing individuals that the EU prefers to avoid. As a consequence, they may turn into new hubs for cross-border crime, human trafficking, and violations of human rights.

BUILDING THE BRIDGE! | A WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE OTHER AND ONE ANOTHER

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanism for Many to Move Mountains

Photo Credit: Abraham A. van Kempen, our home away from home on the Dead Sea

By Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor
Updated 19 January 2024

Those who commit to 'healing our broken humanity' build intercultural bridges to learn to know and understand one another and others. Readers who thumb through the Building the Bridge (BTB) pages are not mindless sheep following other mindless sheep. They THINK. They want to be at the forefront of making a difference. They're in search of the bigger picture to expand their horizons. They don't need BTB or anyone else to confirm their biases.

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanism for Many to Move Mountains

Accurate knowledge fosters understanding, dispels prejudice, and sparks a desire to learn more. Words have an extraordinary power to bring people together, divide them, forge bonds of friendship, or provoke hostility. Modern technology offers unprecedented possibilities for good, fostering harmony and reconciliation. Yet, its misuse can cause untold harm, leading to misunderstandings, prejudices, and conflicts.

Continue reading

A Free Trial for Life – SUBSCRIBE NOW!

• It's quick and straightforward.

• We won’t ask for your credit card number.

• Just enter your e-mail address to receive your complimentary free-for-life subscription to our newsletter.

• Please include your First and Last Name.

• We won’t share or sell your e-mail address.

_________________________

Related Articles Recently Posted on www.buildingthebridgefoundation.com:

OUR FRIDAY NEWS ANALYSIS

OUR WEDNESDAY NEWS ANALYSIS

OUR MONDAY EDITION

________________________

The views expressed are solely those of the author and may or may not reflect those of the Building the Bridge Foundation