Bolton Warns Trump’s Spite Could Harm NATO Over Iran Conflict

Bolton Warns of Trump’s Spite Over Iran Conflict, Risks to NATO

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton has issued a stark warning regarding President Donald Trump’s approach to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Bolton suggests that Trump’s tendency towards spite and a transactional approach to foreign policy could severely damage the NATO alliance and lead to unintended consequences. He argues that Trump’s failure to adequately prepare the public and Congress for the intervention in Iran has contributed to his current political struggles.

Trump’s Strategy and Public Support

Bolton believes President Trump is losing public and political support for the Iran conflict, attributing this largely to his own actions. “He didn’t do any of the customary preparation of the general public or of Congress specifically before launching the attack on Iran,” Bolton stated. He emphasized that this preparation should have included making a strong case for regime change due to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism, a process that could have taken months.

Instead, Trump appears to operate on a day-to-day, transactional basis, often dismissing the concerns of his advisors. Bolton noted Trump’s surprise at Iran’s retaliation against Gulf Arab states, saying, “That puts him in a category by himself around the world. Nobody was surprised by that.” This lack of strategic foresight, Bolton argues, stems from Trump’s tendency to believe he can talk his way through complex situations rather than engaging in thorough preparatory work, even with allies or opposition groups within Iran.

Concerns Over NATO and European Allies

A significant portion of Bolton’s concern centers on the potential damage to the NATO alliance. He warned European members of NATO to exercise caution in their public statements about the conflict, particularly regarding whether it is Europe’s war. “Be very careful you’re not opening the door for Donald Trump to say, ‘Well, okay, if you don’t think Iran is Europe’s war, let me just inform you that Ukraine is not America’s war,'” Bolton advised.

Bolton highlighted that Trump has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with NATO allies, and this conflict could exacerbate those tensions. He fears Trump might use European reluctance to fully engage in the Iran conflict as justification to reduce U.S. commitment to European security, including potentially withdrawing troops from NATO detachments in Europe. “The Soviets tried to destroy NATO by splitting Europe and the United States during the Cold War, and they failed,” Bolton reminded. “We’ve got to be careful not to do now what the Soviet Union failed to do during the Cold War.”

Risks of Spite and Miscalculation

Bolton cautioned against the idea that European nations or others could score political points against Trump by criticizing his handling of the Iran situation. “It’s playing with fire to think that you can score points on Donald Trump through this misfortune,” he warned. He urged European members of NATO to “keep your own council for a while” if they wish to preserve the alliance.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Bolton expressed doubt that Trump would be forced to end the conflict unless economic factors like a stock market crash or soaring oil prices intervened. He noted that while Trump believes the U.S. military can clear the strait, the lack of support from NATO allies in providing ships is a significant concern. “European nations, European members of NATO should reconsider their disinterest in in supplying ships,” Bolton urged, calling it a “big mistake.” He added that Trump can be spiteful, and European leaders being spiteful in return is “risky and juvenile.”

Political Ramifications and Leadership Questions

Bolton also touched upon the resignation of Joe Kent from a position within the administration, viewing it as a political problem for Trump. He described Kent as part of an isolationist wing of the Republican party, a sentiment he believes resonates with a broader segment of Trump’s base. Bolton speculated that other resignations, potentially even at the cabinet level like that of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, could follow.

When asked about Trump’s fitness for office, Bolton reiterated his long-held view. “I’m not either a shrink or a physician, but I said long ago he was not fit to be president, and I still think that’s the right diagnosis,” Bolton concluded.

Source: Don’t Underestimate Trump’s Spite Over Hormuz | John Bolton Warns Nato in Europe (YouTube)