Mark Esper

NATO, acting US Pentagon chief discuss Afghanistan

November 16, 2020 Lorne Cook, Associated Press

BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has spoken to the new acting U.S. defense secretary about the alliance’s commitment to stay in Afghanistan as long as necessary, his spokeswoman said Monday, amid speculation that President […]

President Trump replaces Defense Secretary Mark Esper

November 9, 2020 North State Journal Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump announced on Twitter that he terminated Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. “I am pleased to announce that Christopher C. Miller, the highly respected Director of the National Counterterrorism Center […]

Israeli defense chief heads to US to discuss military edge

September 21, 2020 The Associated Press

JERUSALEM — Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz headed to Washington on Monday for talks with his U.S. counterpart on maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East following its historic normalization agreement with the […]

US defense chief Esper to visit Palau, Guam and Hawaii

August 22, 2020 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Defense Secretary Mark Esper will travel to the tiny North Pacific island nation of Palau next week, as well as to Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam, the Pentagon said. It […]

US to bring 6,400 troops home from Germany, move 5,600 more

July 29, 2020 Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Spurred on by President Donald Trump’s demand to pull troops out of Germany, the U.S. will bring about 6,400 forces home and shift about 5,600 to other countries in Europe, U.S. defense […]

Esper order aims to expand diversity within military

July 17, 2020 Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Defense Secretary Mark Esper took steps to expand diversity within the military and reduce prejudice, but he skirted several major decisions, including whether to ban the Confederate flag at defense installations. In […]

Esper defends use of National Guard in helping with unrest

July 9, 2020 Robert Burns and Lolita Baldor, Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Thursday defended using National Guard soldiers to support law enforcement agencies in handling civil unrest triggered by the killing of George Floyd. “Using active duty forces in […]

Pentagon chief seeks to reassure NATO over US troop plans

June 26, 2020 Lorne Cook, Associated Press

BRUSSELS — U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday sought to reassure allies at NATO that Washington will consult them on any future troop movements, after President Donald Trump surprised partners at the military alliance […]

Trump: No change at bases named for Confederate officers

June 10, 2020 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Wednesday said his administration will “not even consider” changing the name of any of the 10 Army bases that are named for Confederate Army officers. Two days earlier, […]

Nation’s capital set to begin a gradual reopening on Friday

May 29, 2020 Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The nation’s capital will begin a gradual reopening Friday, even as Mayor Muriel Bowser warns that it probably will result in more coronavirus infections. Restaurants will be permitted to seat guests outdoors, […]