Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton speaks to TOI on Trump's strategic mistakes, foreign policy decisions and personal vendettas
He was part of Donald Trump’s cabinet in his first term and is now one of his most trenchant critics. Ex-US National Security Advisor John Bolton weighs in on the Trump administration’s strategic mistakes. Excerpts:
Q: PM Modi recently met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the SCO summit, their first meeting in seven years. What do you make of this outreach?
A: It was a big propaganda success for Xi Jinping and China. It legitimised communist rule, projected power and highlighted the contrast between Chinese stability versus the erratic Trump administration. I understand why Modi went to the summit, and all of us understood the signal he was sending. It seems the Trump administration received it too.
Q: PM Modi recently met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the SCO summit, their first meeting in seven years. What do you make of this outreach?
A: It was a big propaganda success for Xi Jinping and China. It legitimised communist rule, projected power and highlighted the contrast between Chinese stability versus the erratic Trump administration. I understand why Modi went to the summit, and all of us understood the signal he was sending. It seems the Trump administration received it too.