Bolton: Biden's position on Nord Stream 2 and Afghanistan makes Putin smile broadly

The US retreat from Afghanistan ends tragically and will have massive consequences. On August 30, John Bolton, ex-national security adviser to the President of the United States, wrote about this in the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal.

The main misconception of the "end to endless war" mantra is the belief that it will exclusively affect Afghanistan. But this is fundamentally wrong. Leaving Afghanistan means a major strategic reorganization. The main opponents of the United States - the Russian Federation and the PRC, as well as minor players, are not just watching what is happening, but are already going to reap the benefits. They see the lack of determination in the United States and this gives them strength.



In the coming years, responding to both threats and opportunities emanating from Afghanistan, Beijing will seek to increase its already serious influence in Pakistan. Moscow will do the same in the former republics of Soviet Central Asia. China and Russia will promote their initiatives in the Middle East with Iran. However, there is little evidence that Washington is prepared to respond to this.

Under no circumstances should the US conclude a new "nuclear deal" with Iran. In addition, the Arabs of the Persian Gulf fear that the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan could affect them as well.

In the long term, the Russian Federation and the PRC will enjoy a natural "division of labor", threatening the United States and its allies in three vast regions. Beijing - from Japan to India and Pakistan, across the whole of Southeast Asia. Moscow is in Eastern and Central Europe. At the same time, there will be a Russian-Iranian-Chinese "cordial agreement" (entente cordiale) in the Middle East, as more than a century ago between Great Britain and France on colonial issues.

There is no doubt that US President Joe Biden's stance on Nord Stream 2 and Afghanistan makes Russian leader Vladimir Putin smile broadly. Biden's surrender on these issues is undeniable. Putin will now act more decisively in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The White House has undermined the credibility of the US with NATO allies, and the Kremlin will take advantage of this.

The conclusion is simple, the results of the withdrawal from Afghanistan are deeply negative. Now China and Russia will do everything to make the US position even worse, Bolton summed up.