DONALD Trump is serious when he threatens to withdraw the US from NATO and that should put Washington’s allies on alert, warned John Bolton.
The former national security adviser warned that the bombastic tycoon does not understand international affairs.
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“He [Trump] does not see alliances as mutually reinforcing partnerships,” Bolton told The US Sun.
For years, Trump has criticized the US’ European partners over their spending commitments to NATO.
And when probed by Time magazine in April, the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee appeared hesitant when asked whether U.S. forces would rush to Taiwan’s aid if it were attacked by China.
“Our allies should be warned that when Trump talks about leaving NATO or not defend Taiwan, this is not idle speculation”, warned Bolton.
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“That’s something he would be prepared to do.”
Bolton explained that Trump is not shaped by a philosophy – unlike conventional politicians.
“He is very ad hoc, transactional and sees things through the prism of what benefits Trump,” he said.
The former US ambassador to the UN said Trump’s lack of philosophy makes him more vulnerable to being taken advantage of.
Bolton revealed that Trump sees international diplomacy as a trade deal and highlighted the former president’s affection for foreign leaders.
During his first term, Trump was photographed warmly embracing Russian despot Vladimir Putin, North Korean despot Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping.
But Bolton warned that Trump’s affection for dictators could result in him being taken advantage of.
Foreign leaders do not consider international diplomacy a game of personal relationships, according to Bolton.
“Trump has an affinity with Xi Jinping – he used to call him king and said it with admiration,” he said.
“Xi does not think that China’s national interest is the same as having a good friendship with Trump.
“That’s why Trump is so vulnerable to the cajoling, laboring and deception of foreign leaders who take advantage of his inexperience – even after four years as president.”
Bolton previously warned about how Trump could be playing into the hands of US adversaries.
But it’s not just China that could benefit if Trump returns to the White House.
He is very ad hoc, transactional and sees things through the prism of what benefits Trump
John Bolton
Bolton told The US Sun how Trump’s return could be Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s worst nightmare.
“Trump said in the recent past that he would get Zelensky and Putin in a room and, within 24 hours, they would resolve the war in Ukraine,” he said.
“This is ridiculous, of course, but the risk is that when 24 hours pass and there is no solution – and there won’t be – that wouldn’t be Trump’s fault because it’s never his fault.
“I’m afraid it would have to be someone else’s.
“I’m afraid this is Zelensky’s and it will end very badly for Ukraine.”
Trump has long called on America’s allies to meet their spending commitments.
“Many of our allies in NATO they can be criticized, for example, for not fulfilling the commitment they voluntarily made to spend 2% of their GDP on defense.”
But he warned that this should not be interpreted as a disruption of the United States’ membership in the alliance.
“That doesn’t mean you ignore other allies or don’t work to make alliances,” Bolton said.
“I fear that this is Zelensky and that it will end very badly for Ukraine.
John Bolton
“It’s just something Trump doesn’t quite understand.
“Alliances as NATO They are in our interests because they protect American security interests as well as those of the Allies.
“We are not doing this out of the kindness of our hearts because we are Cool people, although we are.
“We are doing this because it makes us safer.
“That’s a concept I find foreign to Trump.”
Bolton believes Trump would try to withdraw the US from NATO, but believes such a move would be an act of stupidity.
Anthony Scaramucci, who worked as White House communications director for 11 days in July 2017, also feels the same way.
“He will try to tear up the treaties that have helped the world have peace and prosperity since the end of World War II,” he previously told The US Sun.
Trump’s skepticism towards NATO is well known and the fiery Republican was not shy about expressing his criticisms of members of the transatlantic alliance before stepping foot into the White House.
LONG-TERM CRITICISM
In 2016, he was asked by Wolf Blitzer whether the US should rethink its participation in the alliance.
Trump responded by claiming that membership was costing too much money.
“We are playing disproportionately. It’s too much,” Trump told the CNN titan.
“And frankly, it’s a different world than it was when we originally conceived the idea.”
Trump has repeatedly stated that the alliance was obsolete.
And he criticized Member States who were not paying what he believed was their fair share.
Trump appeared to soften his criticisms when he was in the White House.
During an event in February 2017, where he addressed senior military officials, Trump said that his administration strongly supports NATO.
Earlier this year, Trump raised alarm bells when he said Russia could do whatever it wanted with a NATO member if it didn’t meet its spending targets.
FLUSH REBESTED?
Trump stated that the alliance was caught before his presidency.
“I said, ‘Everybody’s going to pay,'” Trump told his die-hard base at a rally in South Carolina earlier this year.
“They said, ‘Well, if we don’t pay, are you still going to protect us?’
“I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ They couldn’t believe the answer.”
Wargamers have even speculated that the alliance could be brought to the brink of collapse if Trump’s troops returned to the White House, for Rolling Stone.
Questions continue to arise about what Trump’s foreign policy would look like if he regained the White House.
And the concept of a second Trump term is becoming more conceivable if the polls are to be believed.
Seven swing states will decide who ends up in the Oval Office in January 2025.
Trump leads in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to an average of polls compiled by Very clear Policy.
The Republican was defeated in all six states by Biden in 2020.
Trump also boasts a nearly five percentage point lead in North Carolina.
In 2020, Trump carried the state by just over a percentage point.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
