WASHINGTON, DC — Earlier today, President Trump fired National Security Advisor John Bolton, noting that he “strongly disagreed with many” of Bolton’s suggestions, “as did others in the administration.”

In reaction to the announcement, Derek Johnson, executive director of the international Global Zero movement for the elimination of all nuclear weapons, issued the following statement on Bolton’s sudden departure:

“It’s hard to overstate the negative impact John Bolton had on stability and nuclear arms control, and how his removal improves the outlook for a saner approach to nuclear policy. The outgoing National Security Advisor has made a career out of killing arms control agreements and was central to the disastrous decision to walk away from the Iran nuclear deal despite clear evidence that it was working as intended. 

“Bolton has been a uniquely destructive force in Washington: he helped tank the ABM Treaty, the Agreed Framework with North Korea, the Iran Deal and most recently the INF Treaty. The 2010 New START agreement — the only remaining restraint on U.S.-Russian nuclear arsenals — was next on his hit list. That agreement, which expires in less than 18 months, now has a fighting chance at survival. 

“With Bolton out of the way, Trump could extend New START at the stroke of a pen, preserving critical limits and verification tools and strengthening the last barrier to a full-blown nuclear arms race. The president’s grasp of world affairs and track record on diplomacy doesn’t inspire confidence, but the picture looks better today than it did yesterday.”