Bolton blunt about world affairs

Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton brought a frank reality check to Utah business executives Tuesday, saying many governments are still playing a protectionist role in foreign trade that could hurt U.S. companies competing in the global economy

His first target was Russia. After the former Soviet Union collapsed, former President Boris Yeltsin pushed Russia to embrace democracy and free markets, Bolton said. But in the past five years, under Vladimir Putin’s increasingly autocratic rule, Russia has grown more assertive in foreign affairs, he added.
Bolton said Putin is not afraid to use Russia’s vast oil and natural gas reserves as a tool to influence governments in Western Europe and the Middle East.

SaltLakeTribune