In a recent interview with CNN, the former National Security Advisor of the United States, John Bolton, expressed his deep concern about the current direction of U.S. foreign policy, especially regarding Russia's influence in Latin America and its impact on national security.
Bolton directed direct criticism at the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, whom he reproached for following the White House's charade, orchestrated from the Kremlin under the direction of Vladimir Putin, and reminded him of the threat posed by the Russian presence in the region, with an emphasis on countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
“One of the reasons why it is becoming increasingly difficult to get the Russians to negotiate is that Donald Trump is giving them everything they want. And remember, what kind of regime are we talking about in Moscow? Right, Marco? This is the regime that supports Ortega in Nicaragua. It is the regime that supports Maduro in Venezuela. It is the regime that supports the post-Castro regime in Cuba, Marco. That is the Russia we are talking about,” Bolton said.
Asked about the heated meeting held by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ambassador Bolton described it as “a disaster for U.S. national security.”
Trump has divorced himself from the foundations of U.S. foreign policy since 1945. Many of his supporters would applaud that, but it is a disaster for the United States. Europeans cannot do this on their own. They can talk about it all they want, but they need a United States led by someone who understands what their own interests are,” he added.
According to the former National Security Advisor from Trump's first administration, the president is “emotionally committed to siding with Russia, and I believe this portends disaster for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and is a bad sign for the United States' allies around the world.”
"Trump is consumed by the idea that Zelensky and Ukraine conspired against him in the 2016 election. I could read to you some excerpts from my book, omitting the words I cannot repeat on television that Trump repeatedly said about Zelensky. And on the other hand, he thinks Putin is his friend. This is not only going in the wrong direction, it's heading in a catastrophically wrong direction, quickly, with global implications for our alliance system," the international analyst asserted.
According to the CNN interviewer, after the unfortunate meeting, the current National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, and Secretary Rubio went to tell Zelenski to leave the White House, closing the door to the negotiation for which he had traveled to Washington. “What would you have done if you were in your former position?” the host asked Bolton.
“Well, I could have fulfilled the order, but I would have resigned afterward. I must say that seeing Marco in that situation was very sad for me.” He has been a strong advocate for a vigorous American foreign policy in the world, which keeps us safer at home, and yet he spoke about how difficult it is to get the poor Russian regime to come to the table for negotiations,” he concluded.
Encouraging him to "put on his big boy pants," Bolton addressed Rubio to advise him on how to negotiate with Putin. "Putin is one of the most ruthless individuals I've ever met. He knows what it means to exchange. It's not that he's nervous about sitting at the table. He doesn't need to," he stated.
"Trump has the wind at his back; he just needs to sit there and get more. This is exactly the opposite of what he is doing in his negotiations with Putin. I can tell you that the Russians are better than anyone else at accepting concessions, keeping them in their pockets, and then saying, 'What do you have for me now?' That’s what they are doing at the Kremlin tonight," he concluded.
John Bolton: A Strong Advocate of Hardline Foreign Policy
Bolton is a prominent figure in American politics, known for his strong and, at times, controversial stance on national security and foreign policy issues.
He served as National Security Advisor to President Trump from April 2018 to September 2019. During his tenure, Bolton advocated for more aggressive policies towards nations considered adversaries of the United States, including Russia and its allies in Latin America.
His departure from the Trump administration occurred after significant disagreements regarding the strategy to be adopted in countries such as Venezuela and North Korea.
Expectations and concerns of the Cuban-American community
The Cuban-American community has closely followed the Trump administration's policy towards Cuba and other authoritarian regimes in the region.
Initially, Rubio's appointment as Secretary of State was met with enthusiasm, anticipating a tougher stance against dictatorships in Latin America. However, recent actions and statements have raised concern and anticipation among those who were hoping for a more robust policy.
Historic rapprochement between the United States and Russia
Recently, a rapprochement has been observed between the United States and Russia. Secretary Rubio and Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, held a dialogue in Riyadh, following the conversation between Presidents Trump and Putin.
This dialogue has been interpreted as an attempt to improve bilateral relations and address international conflicts, including the situation in Ukraine.
In that regard, Bolton's statements highlighted the need for a reevaluation of the United States' foreign policy towards Latin America, particularly concerning Russian influence.
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