During his speech at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., National Security Adviser John Bolton said the United States would no longer support United Nations peacekeeping missions that lack focus and are wasteful.
Having served as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. under President George W. Bush, Bolton’s speech was to outline President Donald Trump’s administration’s Africa Strategy.
"The United States will no longer provide indiscriminate assistance across the entire continent, without focus or prioritization and we will no longer support unproductive, unsuccessful, and unaccountable U.N. peacekeeping missions. We want something more to show for Americans' hard-earned taxpayer dollars,” Bolton said.
"Our objective is to resolve conflicts, not freeze them in perpetuity," he added.
"The U.S. will respect the independence of other nations in providing humanitarian, security, and development relief.
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) December 13, 2018
We are not among those powers that pursue dollars for dependency."
Bolton said because the American people are a generous people, they expect the money to be put to good use.
When it comes to financial assistance to the continent of Africa, Bolton said the administration’s priority for the dollars that are sent is ensuring it is spent “efficiently and effectively, to advance peace, stability, independence, and prosperity in the region.”
NOW:NSA Amb. John Bolton unveiling Trump Admin new Africa strategy @Heritage Foundation. “In America’s economic dealings, we ask only for reciprocity, never for subservience.” Says any sound US policy must address threat of radical Islamic terror & growing China influence. @OANN pic.twitter.com/WbEyFpWGZf
— Emerald Robinson (@EmeraldRobinson) December 13, 2018
Keeping in line with the National Defense Strategy, the Africa Strategy is to help facilitate the shift in focus of counterterrorism to peer-to-peer nation competitors, such as Russia and China.
"Great power competitors—namely China and Russia—are rapidly expanding their financial and political influence across Africa ... China uses bribes, opaque agreements, and the strategic use of debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing’s wishes and demands" #BoltonAtHeritage
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) December 13, 2018