John Bolton warns US ‘sitting still’ while China and Russia ‘strengthen their relationship’

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton warned on Sunday that the United States is “standing still” while China and Russia strengthen their relationship and influence.

“We are sitting still, and the Chinese, the Russians, Iran, North Korea and a few others are taking steps to strengthen their relationship and threaten us in many different places,” said Bolton, who served as former President Donald Trump. a third national security adviser before a stormy departure from the administration, said at WABC “Cat Roundtable” hosted by John Katsimatidis.

China recently engaged Iran to restore diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and reopen embassies after seven years of tension. The deal was made public on Friday after it was struck in Beijing during a ceremonial National People’s Congress in a major diplomatic victory for China as the Gulf Arab states see the United States as slowly pulling out of the Middle East. It also comes at a time when diplomats are trying to end the protracted war in Yemen, a conflict that is deeply rooted in both Iran and Saudi Arabia.

“In the case of Saudi Arabia, for example, it reflects their concerns that the US administration has still abandoned the nuclear deal, going back to the Iran nuclear deal,” Bolton said on Sunday. “This is a sign that the Saudis and others are trying to hedge their bets on China and Russia because they don’t think the United States has the resolve and fortitude needed to protect the world from Iran and its intentions as a terrorist front.” as well as on the nuclear front.

DNI HAINES CONSIDERS CHINA COMMUNIST PARTY ‘MAJOR AND MOST CONSEQUENTIAL THREAT TO US NATIONAL SECURITY’

Earlier last week, Saudi Arabia said it had deposited $5 billion into Turkey’s central bank, likely helping Ankara bolster its long-weakened lira currency in the aftermath of last month’s earthquake.

“And what the Chinese are doing is just basic blocking and grappling. They want access to as many oil reserves as they can get. Now they are Iran’s biggest client – they would like to have access to Saudi Arabia. Russian oil and gas purchases are frustrating US and Western European sanctions,” Bolton continued. “The Chinese have a strategy that they follow. We seem to wander from day to day. And I think it’s becoming more and more evident, and I hope that the 2024 presidential election will provide a forum for discussing this, we need to get to act together in the United States, otherwise it will only get worse.”

Bolton was reacting to the Biden administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, as former US servicemen in Kabul testified before Congress last week.

“It just goes to show how disastrous the troop withdrawal was, disastrous for American interests. And the Chinese are taking full advantage of it, as are the Russians,” Bolton said. “We have left a huge vacuum in Central Asia. They will try to fill it if other foreign terrorists do not fill it first. If we don’t think about these threats soon, things will go faster in international affairs than people think.” I mean China’s buildup of nuclear weapons and the ability to hit the United States with land-based ballistic missiles, submarine-launched missiles and cruise missiles.”

Former national security adviser John Bolton said China benefits from the war in Ukraine whether the Russians win or lose. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

US ‘SURE’ CHINA CONSIDERING SUPPLY OF DEATH EQUIPMENT TO RUSSIA, CIA DIRECTOR SAYS

“They are well under way, and yet, late last week, President Biden proposed an increase in the defense budget, which was less than the rate of inflation,” he added. “Of the proposed budget of more than $7 trillion, defense comes to about $850 billion. This is no small amount of money, but it pales in comparison to the more than $7 trillion spent on domestic spending. us if we don’t pull up our socks.”

Bolton also talked about how China is benefiting from the war in Ukraine. Senior US officials have warned that Beijing is considering providing “lethal equipment” to support Russia’s offensive.

The director of the CIA recently warned the Chinese director of the office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi, against sending deadly aid to Russia. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

“One of the biggest winners of the war in Ukraine has been China,” Bolton said. “If Russia won and, as a maximum, regained all of Ukraine, it would be a victory for an ally of China, which would strengthen China as well. But frankly, if Russia continues to chew on Ukraine, it only makes Russia more dependent. across China. So China wins there too.”

“It is absolutely correct to say that we are seeing Russia increasingly come under the control of China,” he continued. “This is an alliance of China that it is creating, and Russia is a junior partner. This is not good for any of us. I would like to find ways to tear Russia away from China. I don’t think it can be done while the war is going on.” … And indeed, only after Ukraine regains its territory – and perhaps we see some changes in Russia – will we have such a chance.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“I would never bet against the United States, but I think as we enter this election season and we are already in the 2024 campaign, Americans should say to potential presidential candidates, ‘What is your national security policy? what to do to keep the country strong and protected from all these external threats?” Bolton said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.