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US defence chief of staff Kevin Sweeney resigns

US Department of Defence chief of staff Kevin Sweeney has resigned from his post, following shortly after Defence Secretary James Mattis left his position.

US • 06 Jan 19

Donald Trump is said to have been angered over James Mattis' resignation letter

'Hold fast': Mattis bids farewell to the Pentagon

Former US defence secretary Jim Mattis bade farewell to the Pentagon, telling the US military to "hold fast" after he quit over a series of fundamental differences with President Donald Trump.

US • 03 Jan 19

Jim Mattis was to quit effective from the end of February, but Donald Trump said Patrick Shanahan would take over from 1 January

Trump pushes out Mattis early over resignation letter

US President Donald Trump has said he is replacing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis two months earlier than had been expected, a move officials said was driven by Mr Trump's anger at Mr Mattis' resignation letter and its rebuke of his foreign policy.

US • 23 Dec 18

James Mattis was viewed as a stabilising figure in an increasingly chaotic White House

Mattis resignation letter reveals chaos at White House

The widely respected Defense Secretary's letter reveals the full extent of the gulf between himself and President Donald Trump.

US • 21 Dec 18

Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October

Saudi Arabia vows 'complete' probe of Khashoggi murder

Saudi Arabia has promised a "full" investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said following talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

World • 28 Oct 18

Jim Mattis' stressed the US effort is currently focused on diplomacy

Trump: North Korea will 'regret' any move against Guam

US President Donald Trump warned North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un not to take any action against the US, its territories including Guam or its allies, warning he would regret such a move - and "regret it fast".

News • 11 Aug 17

North Korea carried out two atomic tests and a series of missile launches last year

Mattis fires N Korea nuclear attack warning

Any nuclear attack by North Korea would trigger an "effective and overwhelming" response, US defence secretary James Mattis has said in Seoul.

News • 03 Feb 17

James Mattis