"Dictators Interested in Building Personal Relationships"
Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton sharply criticized President-elect Donald Trump's claim of "ending the war," calling it "all bluff." Analysts suggest that the likelihood of an international crisis has increased due to Trump's decision-making being influenced more by personal relationships and impulsive reactions than by national interests.
In an interview with the British daily The Guardian published on the 24th (local time), Bolton pointed out Trump’s lack of intellectual concepts and absence of a consistent strategy, expressing critical views. Having been a key aide during Trump's first term, he highlighted Trump’s problems based on his own experience working with him.
Bolton dismissed Trump’s claim that he would quickly end the Gaza war, the Ukraine war, and that he alone could prevent a "Third World War" as "all bluff." He added, "The world has become more dangerous than when he was president," and said, "the only real crisis we faced was COVID-19, which was a long-term crisis caused by a pandemic, not by any particular foreign power."
He continued, "The risk of 19th-century style international crises is much higher in Trump's second term," and expressed concern, saying, "Given his inability to focus on making consistent decisions, the outcome is very worrying."
Recalling Trump's first term, he said, "Like all past U.S. presidents, I believed his thinking would be systematically organized due to the heavy responsibility of national security, the seriousness of the issues at hand, and the weight of the consequences his decisions would bring." However, he added, "Many behavioral patterns were already established and never changed," and "It became clear that Trump has no concept of intellectual discipline."
Bolton said many decisions during Trump's first term appeared to be a series of "impulsive reactions." He further criticized, "He has no philosophy, does not engage in policy, and lacks a national security strategy."
Additionally, he said Trump valued personal relationships with dictators such as North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He lacked the capabilities required for the presidency and blatantly ignored the daily national security briefings that presidents receive. Bolton stated, "Trump does not know much about foreign policy and does not like to read," adding, "He believes that making deals by looking the person across the table in the eye is what matters."
He also criticized Trump’s belief that he had built a friendship with President Putin, saying that in his view, Putin knows how to handle Trump and considers him an easy opponent. He emphasized, "If everything is based on personal relationships and you do not understand how the other side views you, it shows a lack of situational awareness and will inevitably cause problems." Analysts believe that after re-election, Trump will feel more confident in his judgments and the risks will increase.
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