‘Fasten your seat belts’: China hawk John Bolton replaces McMaster as Trump’s national security adviser
‘We should also expect an even more confrontational approach to China – a trade war may just be the beginning of a broader geopolitical competition’
HR McMaster has been replaced by hawkish former UN Ambassador John Bolton as US President Donald Trump’s third national security adviser in 14 months
Bolton, 69, has advocated using military force against North Korea, a tough line with China and closer US ties with Taiwan. He has long been a polarising figure in Washington foreign policy circles.
Bolton joins a Trump national security team that – with the planned replacement of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson by CIA chief Mike Pompeo – is increasingly populated by figures who share Trump’s penchant for exercising US power unilaterally.
Trump made the announcement on Twitter, posting: “I am pleased to announce that, effective 4/9/18, @AmbJohnBolton will be my new National Security Advisor.
“I am very thankful for the service of General H.R. McMaster who has done an outstanding job & will always remain my friend. There will be an official contact handover on 4/9.”