- The United States Defence Secretary Jim Mattis announced his resignation on December 21 citing foreign policy differences with President Donald Trump including his failure to persuade Trump to reconsider his decision to withdraw the remaining American troops from Syria.
- The resignation of Pentagon Chief, Mattis, will be effective from 28 February 2019 so as to have sufficient time for a successor to be nominated.
- The 68-year-old Mattis, a retired United States Marine Corps General, will be retiring, with distinction, at the end of February, after having served the Administration as Secretary of Defense for the past two years.
- Extra Information:Trump made an announcement on December 20 that U.S. troops in Syria would be withdrawn. The president also plans to withdraw at least 5,000 of the 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The decision will have a huge impact on strong U.S. military presence to bolster diplomatic peace efforts in the regions.
