FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Today’s decision to cancel the proposed Trump-Kim summit further adds chaos into an already chaotic diplomatic strategy toward North Korea,” said John Tierney, Executive Director at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and a former U.S. Congressman.
“The first rule of diplomacy is to always consult your allies, yet our key allies in the region were blindsided by the move. President Trump can blame North Korea’s hostile rhetoric for his decision, but the reality is that the Trump Administration had no unified diplomatic strategy from the beginning.
Referencing Libya, which is associated with the eventual the death of Muammar Gaddafi, as Vice President Pence and National Security Advisor Bolton did on numerous occasions, laid the foundation for the collapse of any negotiations.
Real diplomacy requires real effort beyond unrealistic preconditions and expectations.
At this point, the Trump Administration should let expert diplomats take the lead in private and avoid publicly sabotaging any remaining chances for a diplomatic breakthrough. In addition, both countries should refrain from implicit or explicit threats to use nuclear weapons.”
Tierney, who served in Congress as Representative from Massachusetts from 1997 to 2015, was Chairman of the House Oversight national security subcommittee.
Contact Anna Schumann at aschumann@armscontrolcenter.org.
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