Syria: Trump’s Defence Secretary, Jim Mattis Resigns

Related stories

What Europe’s response to a no-deal with Trump could look like

Brussels is preparing for a no-deal scenario as uncertainty...

Oil Prices Climb Amid U.S.-EU Trade Hopes and Russian Export Restrictions

Oil prices climbed Friday amid U.S.-EU trade progress, a...

U.S. Refiners Rethink Crude Sourcing After Chevron Gets Venezuela Green Light

U.S. refiners are reassessing Latin American crude sourcing strategies...

Presidency, Kwankwaso Clash Over Claims of Northern Marginalization

• Kwankwaso: "Tinubu is Starving North of Development, Prioritizing...

Natasha Faces Full Suspension as Senate Goes on Recess

By Abiola Olawale  Indications have emerged that suspended Senator Natasha...

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, whose experience and stability were widely seen as a balance to an unpredictable president, resigned on Thursday in protest of President Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria and his rejection of international alliances.

Mr. Mattis had repeatedly told friends and aides over recent months that he viewed his responsibility to protect the United States’ 1.3 million active-duty troops as worth the concessions necessary as defence secretary to a mercurial president.

But on Thursday, in an extraordinary rebuke of the president, he decided that Trump’s decision to withdraw roughly 2,000 American troops from Syria was a step too far, reports New York Times.

Officials said Mr. Mattis went to the White House with his resignation letter already written, but nonetheless made a last attempt at persuading the president to reverse his decision about Syria, which Trump announced on Wednesday over the objections of his senior advisers.

Mr. Mattis, a retired four-star Marine general, was rebuffed. Returning to the Pentagon, he asked aides to print out 50 copies of his resignation letter and distribute them around the building.

“My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held,” Mr. Mattis wrote.

“Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defence whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position.”

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
What Europe's response to a no-deal with Trump could look likeOil Prices Climb Amid U.S.-EU Trade Hopes and Russian Export RestrictionsU.S. Refiners Rethink Crude Sourcing After Chevron Gets Venezuela Green LightPresidency, Kwankwaso Clash Over Claims of Northern MarginalizationNatasha Faces Full Suspension as Senate Goes on RecessGovernor mourns as Emir of Gusau, Ibrahim Bello, Dies at 712027: INEC Receives 10 New Applications, Brings total to 144 Seeking Registration As PartiesAnxieties as Congo's Ex-President Faces Trial in Court High-Stakes Treason, Murder ChargesBillionaires’ Fortunes Plummet, Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani Lose $19.8 Billion in Single DayAkpabio vs Natasha: High-Stakes Drama as Immigration Officers Seize, Release Natasha's Passport at Abuja Airport Peter Obi’s Dangerous Game By AZU ISHIEKWENEFrench president sues Candace Owens over claims his wife is a manTotalEnergies Warns of Looming Oil GlutFrench Company Secures Ownership of DStv, GOtv in $3 Billion MultiChoice Deal2027 Calculations: Tinubu's Minister, Nentawe Yilwatda Takes Over as APC National Chairman, Succeeds Ganduje
X whatsapp