GUIDANCE

How Bolton's Removal as U.S. National Security Adviser Will Shape U.S. Foreign Policy

Sep 10, 2019 | 22:06 GMT

Former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton.

Former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton. Bolton's departure has the potential to affect U.S. policy on everything from Iran to arms control.

(STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Highlights

  • John Bolton's departure as national security adviser may open the door wider to diplomacy in the Trump administration's handling of Iran, but only if the White House relents and allows some sanctions easing.
  • With Bolton out of the picture, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may face fewer obstacles in trying to get negotiations back on track to secure an Afghan peace deal.
  • Even without Bolton's hard-line opposition to legacy arms control frameworks, negotiations for New START may still be in trouble.
  • Bolton was already largely sidelined on White House policy on North Korea, but his removal will send an important signal to Pyongyang that the White House may be more willing to compromise.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Sept. 10 that he had informed national security adviser John Bolton that his services were no longer needed. Trump added, "I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation." Bolton's removal raises questions about several foreign policy issues marked by either policy inconsistencies or disagreements among Trump administration officials. The decision to dismiss Bolton comes as Trump is struggling to remove political distractions, avoid military confrontation and demonstrate some foreign policy wins as he heads into the 2020 U.S. presidential race. Bolton's departure has the potential to affect U.S. policy on everything from Iran to arms control....

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