John Bolton, former National Security Advisor of the United States, wrote today: "Italian Prime Minister Meloni should disregard President Trump's distasteful personal conduct and instead focus on Italy’s interests and the broader goals of the West. At present, no other European leader is capable of assuming this responsibility. The upcoming September UN General Assembly will provide Meloni with an opportunity to step beyond the EU’s conventional framework, allowing her to fully articulate the security concerns of the free world."
Commentary: Bolton himself is a seasoned foreign policy hawk who has long been at odds with Trump on security strategy. His advice for Meloni to ignore Trump’s personal style rests on two core considerations: First, Meloni is one of the most influential right-wing leaders in Europe, and Bolton sees potential in her ability to shape discourse—hoping she won’t let personal disputes with Trump derail the Western effort to advance a tough security agenda. Second, Bolton aims to encourage Meloni to use the UN General Assembly platform to break away from the EU’s unified stance and voice her own position, thereby advancing his preferred hardline foreign policy approach. He hopes Meloni can help build a transatlantic cooperation channel more aligned with hawkish demands. However, this plan overlooks the reality that as a member of the EU, Italy cannot make diplomatic decisions detached from Europe’s collective interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874325936243786/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.