Asia Expert to Become Trump’s Deputy National Security Adviser

By Reuters 23 September 2019

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE—US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser said on Sunday that White House Asia policy adviser Matt Pottinger would become his top deputy.

Robert O’Brien made the announcement on Air Force One as Trump flew from Ohio to New York, where the president will spend most of the week attending events related to the UN General Assembly.

Last Wednesday, Trump named O’Brien, a veteran foreign policy hand who had served as US hostage negotiator, to replace John Bolton as national security adviser.

Trump and the hawkish Bolton had differences over foreign policy challenges such as Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea.

Pottinger is a former journalist and ex-US Marine who has helped forge China and North Korea policy since Trump took office in January 2017.

“He’s a team player,” O’Brien said.

Pottinger played a key role in arranging Trump’s summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a diplomatic engagement that has made little progress toward persuading Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons.

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