The resignation of Jim Mattis as US defence secretary is ringing alarm bells throughout the West. They were experienced foreign policy figures who could restrain Donald Trump’s isolationist America First instincts. Mr Mattis’s departure is an acknowledgement that this has failed and that core assumptions that have underpinned US foreign policy for 70 years no longer hold. Mr Mattis’s decision to quit was precipitated by the president’s order to withdraw US forces from Syria and his sharp reduction of troop numbers in Afghanistan. Mr Mattis rightly argued that these withdrawals were short-sighted.

Source: The Times December 22, 2018 00:00 UTC