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President Donald Trump is not done yet reshuffling his cabinet. He named John Bolton, a lawyer and diplomat who has served in several Republican administrations, his national security advisor. Doing it his way, the Republican president announced his new decision on the internet tweeting :
«I am pleased to announce that John Bolton 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.»
Bolton will become the third official to occupy this position since the beginning of Donald Trump’s presidential term. The first to hold this position was Michael Flynn. The retired lieutenant-general lasted only 22 days as national security advisor. He, according to American media, was fired by Barack Obama as defense intelligence chief, was investigated for his contacts with Russians and was found guilty for lying to the FBI. In February the 13th, 2017, Flynn was fired over contacts with Russian officials.
Bolton, a pro-Polisario official
Appointing the new national security advisor is worrying for Morocco, as the former diplomat has never hidden in the past his proximity to Algeria and the Polisario. The former United States ambassador to the United Nations, in office from the 1st of August 2005 to the 9th of December 2006, had openly opposed the interests of the Kingdom. To put it in other words, he defended the extension of the MINURSO’s mandate to monitor human rights in Western Sahara and hold a referendum on self-determination.
Positions that are similar to the ones adopted by his mentor James Baker who served as a United Nations envoy to Western Sahara. John Bolton was, indeed, part of Baker’s team and is also a member of the Baker Institute.
Moreover, Bolton’s name was Donald Trump’s second choice when intending to appoint a State Secretary. The US president ended up going for billionaire Rex Tillerson that he fired later through a tweet. In March 2017, Bolton was suggested to replace United Nations Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Christopher Ross after resigning. However, Bolton’s alignment with Algeria and the Polisario’s position had kept him away from holding such position.
