Washington Post: Mattis and Shock Waves Abroad

The United States has the world’s largest military, yet national security relies on a network of allies along with expectations that US leaders promote stability and keep their word during times of crisis. The Trump administration has demonstrated little respect for key allies. US Secretary of Defense General James Mattis resigned after Donald Trump abruptly announced withdrawal of US troops from Syria. Shortly after the resignation, Trump announced plans to reduce troops in Afghanistan without apparent notification to coalition partners or US military leaders. The two conflicts are underway, and withdrawal leaves supporters in a treacherous position. Allies and foes express alarm about the resignation. “In China and Russia, U.S. adversaries that were cited in Mattis’s resignation letter as deserving of tough treatment, there was open anxiety that the world had just become more vulnerable to conflict,” reports the Washington Post. “In regions of the world that bear the imprint of decades-long American influence, it all added up to a realization of some people’s worst fears about U.S. foreign policy under Trump: an increasingly volatile, unreliable and inward-looking United States.” Military leaders worldwide praised Mattis as wise, calm and professional. Allies expect uncertainty and prepare to become more self-reliant. – YaleGlobal