Bolton offers UK costly carrot

The red carpet the British government rolled out for US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Monday suggests that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "putting Britain in hock to" Washington. A prospect that will not only make many in Britain uneasy, but also fill people in other countries with foreboding.

Given what happened the last time the two countries cozied up together, there are palpable concerns about what the two might get up to when they start sweet talking one another.

Particularly since, as predicted, without any foreplay, Bolton offered US support of a no-deal Brexit and some to-the-administration's-point suggestions on being tough on Iran and the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei. Coming from arguably the most hawkish member of the US administration, it conveyed a sense of urgency that the United States wants to reforge its all-weather bonds with its most loyal buddy.