John Bolton takes charge as Trump’s third national security advisor

US President Donald Trump’s new national security adviser John Bolton, the former United Nations ambassador and arms control official, took charge Monday replacing HR McMaster.

Bolton is known for his extreme views on Iran, the DPRK and voicing opinions on many other issues.

Despite many years in the public eye, Bolton has only held high office once before – temporarily as the US ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush. He was in that position for less than a year and a half but never confirmed by the US Senate as he was considered too controversial.

But Bolton has been a fixture as an analyst on Trump’s favorite TV channel, Fox News, where he has been espousing his hawkish views for years.

Bolton believes in the preeminence of the US in world affairs and American exceptionalism. He often pushes unilateral military solutions to solve the thorniest of diplomatic problems. He supported the US invasion of Iraq before and after.

“Pre-emption opponents argue that action is not justified because Pyongyang does not constitute an “imminent threat.” They are wrong,” he wrote in an opinion piece “The Legal Case for Striking North Korea First” that appeared in the Wall Street Journal less than two months ago.

In the lead up to the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, he wrote an opinion piece “To Stop Iran’s Bomb, Bomb Iran” that appeared in The New York Times, advocating Israeli or US attacks against Iran’s nuclear fuel installations. He called for the overthrow of the government in Tehran.

“Such action should be combined with vigorous American support for Iran’s opposition, aimed at regime change in Tehran,” he added.

Bolton has strong views on Taiwan too, backing more military sales to the island, diplomatic contacts, and US port calls. He has encouraged independence.

Trump has been listening to Bolton for a long time. He was reportedly on the short list for US Secretary of State before Rex Tillerson.

Will John Bolton’s views become US policy? This is a big question now.

The extent of Bolton’s influence on Trump will be known soon. Next month, the White House has to decide whether to abandon or stay in the Iran nuclear deal. The US is also planning a high stakes summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un later this year.

As John Bolton takes up his new job, the US is mulling over its response to another alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria and a potential trade war with China.

(CGTN)