U.S. National Security Realignment: The Imperative of Incorporating Women, Peace, and Security as Core Pillars
Going Beyond Meritocracy: Why Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Matters to US National Security
In his 2025 inauguration, President Donald Trump spoke about selecting individuals based on merit, shying away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. However, it's crucial to distinguish the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) legislation from DEI. Signed into law by the same president in 2017, WPS has significant implications for US national security.
Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense nominee, pledged to review the WPS law if confirmed, ensuring its continuation as long as it aligns with the administration's policy priorities. WPS isn't a political human rights or social justice agenda, but a framework that leverages the unique perspectives of women to achieve US strategic goals.
The WPS Framework: A Cornerstone of National Security
Drawing from the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, WPS promotes the inclusion of women in peace and security efforts. The US's WPS strategy, released by the first Trump administration in 2019, acknowledges this inclusion as a means to harness women's distinct talents, diverse thinking, and access to specific societal sectors. This, in turn, supports US competitiveness and national security.
Global Understanding, Increased Engagement
Implementing WPS in military engagements provides a competitive edge against rivals like China and Russia in the era of strategic competition. By fostering greater trust and expanding defense networks in regions of concern, WPS can help the US maintain its status as a global leader and partner of choice. fascinatingly, more and more countries are increasing their recruitment of women in the defense sector to adapt to modern warfare and overcome recruitment shortfalls.
Ignoring diversity and meritocracy could leave women behind in the US military, jeopardizing readiness as a nation. Military leaders should seize the opportunity presented by WPS to tap into the talents of women, ensuring a force ready to tackle complex security challenges in the future.
What is WPS?
WPS aims to build a holistic understanding of society by engaging all people, especially women. It's an outcomes-based operational program that encourages policy-makers and security professionals to approach national security issues via a whole-of-society approach, encompassing diverse perspectives. Critics should not confuse DEI initiatives with WPS, as DEI is a human resources program, while WPS is an analytical framework fostering communication and collaboration in various societal sectors.
National Security Implications
WPS is vital for strategic decision-making, community engagement, and peacebuilding. Research indicates that women-inclusive approaches yield more effective conflict prevention and resolution. When women are included in peace processes, sustainable peace agreements are more likely, diminishing war's devastating effects on regional stability.
Militaries worldwide have successfully integrated women, enhancing operational efficiency, adaptability, and decision-making. Internationally renowned militaries like Israel's Defense Forces and Norway's military forces lead the way in using women to increase force lethality and readiness.
Alignment with US Interests
WPS supports enduring US foreign policy objectives and the administration's policy priorities. Empowering American women as liaisons to communities worldwide can strengthen economies and improve security outcomes in fragile and failed states. Ultimately, this will open doors for engagement in conflict zones, enabling local populations to contribute to ending conflicts.
Current Gaps and a Way Forward
To fully leverage WPS, it needs to be operationalized across the entirety of the US government apparatus. Adapting this approach would provide a significant competitive advantage, allowing America to navigate the complex global security environment effectively. Thus, WPS offers a framework to choose the best individuals for crucial roles, establishing a true meritocracy and addressing America's greatest challenges.
This piece is a reinterpretation of insights presented in the original article, 'The Strategic Importance of Women, Peace, and Security'. Copyrights belong to their respective owners.
Image credit: Sgt. Angela Wilcox, US Marine Corps
- The uniqueness of women's perspectives plays a significant role in achieving US strategic goals for national security.
- WPS encourages women's inclusion in peace and security efforts, enhancing strategic competitiveness.
- Trust and defense networks expansion can be facilitated through WPS, securing the US's status as a global leader.
- More countries are recruiting women in the defense sector to cope with the demands of modern warfare.
- Ignoring diversity in the US military risks jeopardizing national readiness and security.
- WPS seeks to build a holistic understanding of society by engaging all people, with a focus on women.
- WPS operates as an outcomes-based program, promoting a whole-of-society approach with diverse perspectives.
- WPS is crucial for strategic decision-making, community engagement, and peacebuilding.
- Inclusive approaches to conflict prevention and resolution are more effective, as shown by research.
- Sustainable peace agreements are more likely when women are included in peace processes.
- Women's integration in militaries worldwide leads to increased operational efficiency and decision-making.
- Israel Defense Forces and Norway's military forces are leaders in using women to amplify force lethality and readiness.
- WPS supports enduring US foreign policy objectives and policy priorities.
- Empowering American women as liaisons to communities worldwide can strengthen economies and improve security outcomes.
- WPS can foster engagement in conflict zones, enabling local populations to contribute to ending conflicts.
- WPS needs to be operationalized across the entire US government to fully leverage its potential.
- Adapting WPS provides a competitive advantage for the US in navigating the complex global security environment.
- WPS is an alternative means to cultivate a true meritocracy in the US.
- WPS recognizes the importance of women in national security, moving beyond traditional notions of meritocracy.
- DEI initiatives should not be confused with WPS, as the latter is an analytical framework and the former is a human resources program.
- National security is strengthened by embracing a diverse range of talents and perspectives.
- A well-rounded national security strategy should consider health-and-wellness, climate-change, and renewable-energy.
- The development of sustainable-living strategies can contribute to national security by promoting economic growth and resource conservation.
- Investment in environmental-science can help us better understand and combat climate-change threats to national security.
- Improved mental-health services for veterans, as part of mens-health and women's-health programs, bolsters overall readiness and well-being.
- The health-and-wellness industry, including the use of CBD, plays a role in promoting a strong, healthy military force.
- Partnerships with industry can spur innovation in manufacturing, energy, and technology, benefiting national security.
- Strengthening cybersecurity is vital to safeguarding US defense infrastructure from potential threats.
- Wearables and smart-home devices, when secured, can contribute to improving national security by providing valuable data and insights.
- Economic development in the housing-market and real-estate sectors can influence national security by stimulating investment and resiliency.
- Personal finance management, including savings, debt-management, and wealth-management, are essential aspects of national security readiness.
