{"id":50299,"date":"2018-12-20T23:49:41","date_gmt":"2018-12-20T23:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/12\/20\/read-defense-secretary-mattis-resignation-letter\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:58:12","slug":"read-defense-secretary-mattis-resignation-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/2018\/12\/20\/read-defense-secretary-mattis-resignation-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"Read Defense Secretary Mattis\u2019 resignation letter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

President Trump<\/a> on Thursday announced that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis<\/a> would be retiring at the end of February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s Mattis<\/a>‘ letter, dated Dec. 20, to the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Mr. President:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have been privileged to serve as our country\u2019s 26th Secretary of Defense which has allowed me to serve alongside our men and women of the Department in defense of our citizens and our ideals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am proud of the progress that has been made over the past two years on some of the key goals articulated in our National Defense Strategy: putting the Department on a more sound budgetary footing, improving readiness and lethality in our forces, and reforming the Department\u2019s business practices for greater performance. Our troops continue to provide the capabilities needed to prevail in conflict and sustain strong U.S. global influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships. While the U.S. remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies. Like you, I have said from the beginning that the armed forces of the United States should not be the policeman of the world. Instead, we must use all tools of American power to provide for the common defense, including providing effective leadership to our alliances. NATO\u2019s 29 democracies demonstrated that strength in their commitment to fighting alongside us following the 9-11 attack on America. The Defeat-ISIS coalition of 74 nations is further proof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, I believe we must be resolute and unambiguous in our approach to those countries whose strategic interests are increasingly in tension with ours. It is clear that China and Russia, for example, want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model \u2014 gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions \u2014 to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbors, America and our allies. That is why we must use all the tools of American power to provide for the common defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\t