The resignation of defence secretary James Mattis last week bears the hallmarks of a significant turning point for the Trump administration. What it stands for in foreign policy, and how it is likely to conduct itself for the second half of its term are now much clearer – and the implications are alarming.
Mr Mattis cited a broad philosophical disagreement with President Donald Trump. In his resignation letter, he wrote of “treating allies with respect”, “being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors”, and doing “everything possible to advance an international order” as core principles to which he is committed. His letter left no doubt that Mr Trump does not share these commitments.
The Trump administration has been steadily shedding the “grown-ups” – seasoned and accomplished professionals and practitioners, such as Rex Tillerson, HR McMaster, Gary Cohn and John Kelly – and now no one with the will, credibility and gravitas to challenge or restrain Mr Trump is left.
Worse, "America first" – the amorphous phrase Mr Trump uses to describe his policies – is finally starting to become clearly defined, in a disturbing manner.
The Trump administration has thus far been Janus-faced, especially in foreign policy.
At times, it has pursued a kind of robust internationalism recognisable from Republican Cold War traditions. But at other times it has appeared to be neo-isolationist and, at best, mercantilist, by emphasising the expansion of exports at the expense of all other goals.
Mr Trump's idiosyncratic views – such as hostility to trade, multilateral alliances, and traditional partners, his commitment to bilateralism in all things, and his strange affinity for dictators rather than the elected leaders of other democracies – were often held in check during his first two years in office by the dwindling cadre of “grown-ups” around him.
Now that they are all gone, there is no one left who is either willing or able to tell the president when he’s about to make a colossal blunder.
The proximate cause of Mr Mattis's resignation – Syria – is a perfect case in point.
Mr Trump has long wanted to pull American troops out of Syria and Afghanistan. He has said so many times, and he has tried to order the withdrawal of US forces from Syria in the past.
But Mr Mattis and others repeatedly confronted him with the implications of such a reckless action, and each time he capitulated.
Apparently, he’s no longer willing to do that.
It is widely reported that a week ago Mr Trump called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to warn him not to attack US-allied Kurdish forces in northern Syria. His staff had created a well-thought-out agenda and carefully constructed talking points to try to achieve that uncontroversial goal.
Then Mr Trump went wildly off script.
When Mr Erdogan urged him to withdraw US forces from Syria, Mr Trump shocked both his own staff and the Turkish leader by readily agreeing, leaving Mr Erdogan as the one suddenly warning about the dangers of a precipitous US exit.
But it was too late. Mr Trump was determined to follow through with this folly, no matter what.
Almost no one supported his decision among his own senior staff or knowledgeable Republicans in Congress. Many pointed out that this would be a huge victory for the Assad regime, Vladimir Putin and, above all, Iran, and noted that ISIS is by no means defeated and could well stage a major comeback in the vacuum left by US forces.
They also pointed out that this was an unconscionable betrayal of the Kurdish and Arab fighters who have been the main US ground forces against ISIS, and are now being offered up to their Turkish and Syrian regime enemies.
Mr Mattis went to see Mr Trump in a last effort to convince him to avoid this historic strategic, political and moral misstep.
He was unsuccessful, and therefore resigned.
The lessons are unmistakable and deeply alarming.
Following this episode, and with no “grown-ups” left, there is no one to restrain Mr Trump's worst impulses. And "America first" now plainly involves some mixture of irresponsible neo-isolationism and an almost wilful disregard for the interests of allies.
It’s understandable that Mr Mattis can no longer, in good conscience, be part of this fiasco.
Major foreign-policy decisions made on the basis of delusions (that ISIS has been thoroughly defeated), disregard of consequences (huge victories for Iran and ISIS), historical amnesia (how ISIS emerged from a similar rushed withdrawal from Iraq), and against the advice of all experts, officials and, especially, allies, can only lead to disaster.
It is to Mr Mattis’s credit that the betrayal of Washington's Syrian allies in this case, and the global system of alliances in general, underpins his resignation.
Mr Trump keeps handing US enemies, including Russia, North Korea, China and now Iran, extraordinary and undeserved victories. It's no wonder his defence chief wants nothing more to do with it.
How much more the country as a whole can take is becoming an increasingly open question too.
With reckless incompetence at this scale combining with mounting scandals and criminal investigations, the answer may not necessarily be two more years.
Hussein Ibish is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Team Angel Wolf Beach Blast takes place every Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
