US Defense Secretary James Mattis abruptly said he was quitting on Thursday after falling out with President Donald Trump over his foreign policies, a day after President Donald Trump shocked the US establishment by pulling out of Syria.
“Because you have a right to a Secretary of Defense 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,” Mattis said in his resignation letter, released by the Pentagon.
Mattis’ resignation letter makes it clear.
“My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues.” pic.twitter.com/8mkGFXKihI
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) December 20, 2018
ALSO READ: Have defeated ISIS, says Trump, decides to pull troops out of Syria
Trump announced on Wednesday that US troops in Syria would be withdrawn, a decision that upended American policy in the region.
General Jim Mattis will be retiring, with distinction, at the end of February, after having served my Administration as Secretary of Defense for the past two years. During Jim’s tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
….equipment. General Mattis was a great help to me in getting allies and other countries to pay their share of military obligations. A new Secretary of Defense will be named shortly. I greatly thank Jim for his service!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
Moments before the Pentagon released Mr Mattis’s letter, Trump tweeted that his defense secretary would be retiring “with distinction, at the end of February.”
“During Jim’s tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting equipment,” Mr Trump said.
“General Mattis was a great help to me in getting allies and other countries to pay their share of military obligations. A new Secretary of Defense will be named shortly. I greatly thank Jim for his service!”
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