US Defense Secretary resigns over disagreement with Trump
Trump praised Mattis's work, saying he would leave office in February 2019 and the White House would soon announce a replacement.
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Secretary Mattis (right) in a meeting with Trump in early 2018. Photo:AFP |
"Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense who shares your views on world affairs, I believe it is time for me to step down,"Reutersciting the content of the letter sent by US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to US President Donald Trump yesterday.
Mattis' decision came shortly after Trump's surprise announcement that he had defeated the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) and would soon withdraw troops from Syria. The US defense secretary asserted that his views on supporting traditional alliances and being ready to fight "malicious elements" were not in line with the US President's perspective.
The White House boss then praised the Pentagon chief's work, saying Secretary Mattis would retire "with distinction at the end of February next year".
"We have made great progress during Jim's tenure, especially in purchasing new equipment. General Mattis has been a great help to me in getting our allies to meet their obligations. The new Secretary of Defense will be announced soon. I thank Jim for his service," Trump wrote on Twitter.
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Mattis on a foreign trip in late 2017. Photo:Reuters. |
Mattis’ departure does not come as a surprise, especially since the US President has repeatedly ignored his advice. Trump’s decision to withdraw more than 2,000 US troops from Syria was seen as the final straw, as Mattis had warned that leaving Syria too soon would be a “strategic mistake.” Trump and Mattis had also disagreed on a number of issues, including the Iran nuclear deal and the creation of the Space Force.
Jim Mattis is the 26th US Secretary of Defense, a former Marine Corps general. After his election, Trump announced that Mattis would be nominated to head the Pentagon. The US Senate voted 98-1 to approve the proposal on January 20, 2017.
