Bolton Unleashes Alarm: Why a Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Spells Danger

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton, never one to mince words, has unleashed a torrent of criticism against the very notion of a potential summit between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. His concerns aren't just hypothetical; they're deeply rooted in past interactions and a profound skepticism about the value of such a high-stakes encounter.

Bolton, who served under Trump, vividly recalls the former president's seemingly inexplicable affinity for Putin, often prioritizing a desire for a 'deal' over concrete policy objectives or U.S.

strategic interests. He’s voiced fears that another face-to-face meeting, particularly one set against the dramatic backdrop of Alaska, would merely be a public relations coup for Putin, offering him a stage to project strength and legitimacy without any real reciprocal concessions to the United States.

The specter of past summits, notably the infamous Helsinki meeting in 2018 where Trump appeared to side with Putin over U.S.

intelligence agencies regarding election interference, looms large in Bolton's mind. He suggests that such encounters tend to devolve into spectacles where Putin, a seasoned intelligence operative, masterfully exploits Trump's unique negotiation style and penchant for grand gestures, often leaving the U.S.

with little more than a photo opportunity.

Bolton emphasizes that serious diplomatic progress with Russia requires meticulously prepared, lower-level engagements where specific, verifiable outcomes are sought, rather than spontaneous, high-profile tête-à-têtes. His argument is that any perceived personal chemistry or a quick 'deal' between leaders, especially between Trump and Putin, has historically proven superficial at best and detrimental to American security interests at worst.

The strategic stakes are immense.

With ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions, a summit devoid of substance or proper preparation risks undermining alliances, emboldening adversaries, and sending confusing signals to the global community. Bolton’s stark warning is a call to avoid repeating past errors, urging caution and a clear-eyed assessment of Putin’s true intentions before any such meeting is even contemplated.

In essence, Bolton views an Alaska summit less as an opportunity for breakthrough diplomacy and more as a dangerous trap, perfectly designed for Putin to exploit, and potentially leading to further erosion of U.S.

standing on the world stage without any tangible benefits for American foreign policy or national security.