United States Secretary of Defence, James Mattis resigned on Thursday amid disagreement with the US President, Donald Trump over the withdrawal of US military forces from Syria
The United States President, Donald Trump claimed victory over the ISIS in a tweet on Wednesday, soon after senior White House officials were informed about the abrupt potential withdrawal of US troops from Syria. On Thursday, US Secretary of Defence, James Mattis submitted his resignation letter, stating that the President needed someone “better aligned” with his views for the post.
Despite many Pentagon reports clearly indicating otherwise, President Trump on Wednesday declared that the fight against the ISIS in Syria was now over. This was followed by White House spokesperson, Sarah Sanders stating that the withdrawal of US troops marked the start of the “next phase” and the US military would return if needed. The President’s decision, however, not only shocked the United States allies but also overruled his advisers, including the Defence Secretary.
In his resignation letter, James Mattis asserted, “We must do everything possible to advance an international order that is most conducive to our security, prosperity and values, and we are strengthened in this effort by the solidarity of our alliances”, further adding that the President deserved a Defence Secretary who agreed with his ideologies and decisions “on these and other subjects”.
The Defence Secretary announced that he would officially step down from the position on February 28, 2019. He also cautioned the United States about potential security threats, including the ISIS.
The retired Marine General served as the 26th Defence Secretary for the United States. During his tenure, he achieved many National Defense Strategy key goals.
