US congress reassures Aussies: ‘We’re with you’

Congress issues declaration on the importance of the Australia-US alliance, as the envoy to coalition against IS follows Jim Mattis and quits.

Brett McGurk, the envoy to the international coalition of nations fighting Islamic State, has also resigned, dismayed by Donald Trump’s decision last week over Syria.

The US congress has issued an ­extraordinary declaration on the importance of the Australia-US alliance to reassure an anxious Canberra of its enduring commitment to its “special relationship” in the wake of the resignation of Donald Trump’s Defence Secret­ary, Jim Mattis.

Twenty-one members of the congress, including 10 Republic­ans and 11 Democrats, have moved to allay Australian “concerns’’ about the departure of Mr Mattis, Australia’s best friend in Washington, declaring they would act to ­protect the “special bond” ­between the two countries.

Obtained by The Australian from congressional sources, the strongly worded letter delivers a thinly veiled broadside against Mr Trump by saying that congress is the “co-equal” of the President in determining the importance of alliances.

Mr Mattis resigned last week over differences with Mr Trump, including his belief that the President did not attach sufficient ­importance to key alliances.

His resignation was followed yesterday by Brett McGurk — envoy to the international coal­itio­n of nations fighting Islamic State — who, like Mr Mattis, was dismayed by Mr Trump’s decision last week to withdraw all 2000 US troops from Syria.

The departure of Mr Mattis has rattled US allies, including Aust­ralia, because of his longstanding commitment to the importance of joint allied operations in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan to combat Islamic extremism. The retired general made regular visits to the Indo-Pacific region and was a vocal supporter of Australia and its military contributions in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Mr Mattis resigned after Mr Trump unilaterally announced the US withdrawal from Syria, ­despite warnings from the secretar­y and other national ­security advisers that it could spark a re-emergence of Islamic State and cede control of Syria to Russia and Iran.

The letter, addressed to Aust­ralia’s ambassador in Washington, Joe Hockey, said “we share many Australians’ concerns about Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis’ recent announcement that he will step down from the position in February 2019”.

“We write to you to reaffirm our commitment to the enduring alliance between the United States and Australia,” it said.

“As members of the Article 1 co-equal legislative branch of govern­ment, who have both budgetary and policy powers over the foreign and national security policy of the United States, we are writing to strongly reaffirm our agreement with Secretary Mattis that it is in the United States’ ­enduring interest to maintain and strengthen our alliances, built of shared values and shared interests, particularly in the case of our specia­l relationship with Australia.

“Moving forward, we want to extend our deep and sincere commitmen­t to maintain America’s special bond and alliance with your country.”

The letter was drafted by the co-chairs of the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus, Republic­an Mike Gallagher and Democrat Joe Courtney.

Other signatories included Mac Thornberry, the chairman of the house armed services committee, and Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the committee.

The letter quoted Mr Mattis’s words in his resignation letter that “(the US) cannot protect our ­interests or serve (our) role effect­ively without maintain strong ­alliances and showing respect to those allies”. It also focused on a century of military co-operation between Australia and the US, saying “our nations have recognised that our common success is only possible when we are willing to stand side-by-side, on the battlefield if ­necessary, in pursuit of shared value­s and interests’’.

Mr Mattis’s resignation co­incided with reports that Mr Trump was also considering bringing home 7000 US troops from Afghanist­an, in a move which would halve the 14,000 US troops in that country. Australian officials are in talks with the US about the implications of such a move, with about 300 Australians serving there in training and support roles.

Scott Morrison has vowed to stay the course in the war against terrorism in the Middle East, warning that “we cannot be complacent” about the threat of a ­resurgence of Islamic State.

Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia