Mark Esper

Latest Stories

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2019, file photo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks to reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon. Esper on Wednesday, Sept. 4, began briefing allied officials in Europe on an emerging peace deal with the Taliban, but he cautioned that no final deal has been sealed to end the longest war in American history. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

US defense chief Esper cautions Europe to be wary of China

By ROBERT BURNS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2019, file photo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks to reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon. Esper on Wednesday, Sept. 4, began briefing allied officials in Europe on an emerging peace deal with the Taliban, but he cautioned that no final deal has been sealed to end the longest war in American history. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

US holds talks with European allies on Afghan peace deal

By ROBERT BURNS - Associated Press

Defense Secretary Mark Esper meets with war college students

Associated Press

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, left, poses for a photo with horse “Marshall,&quot; named after Gen. George Marshall, after being presented to him in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. With one hand resting on the mane of a sturdy Mongolian horse, Esper invoked the name of one of America’s great soldiers as he sought to strengthen the military bonds between the U.S. and this landlocked democracy sandwiched between Russia and China. (AP Photo/Lolita Baldor)

Pentagon chief visits Mongolia to strengthen military bonds

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper briefs the media at a press conference following annual bilateral ministerial talks in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Esper: US intends to prevent Turkey invasion into Syria

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

Australia says it won’t be hosting US missile site

By TREVOR MARSHALLSEA - Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, listens as Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, makes a point during a press conference following annual bilateral talks in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

US still seeks allies in Gulf maritime coalition

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, second from right, and his wife Susan, right, are greeted by U.S. Ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse and U.S. Consul General Sharon Hudson-Dean as they arrive aboard his plane in Sydney Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool Photo via AP)

Esper: US to soon put intermediate range missile in Asia

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

In this July 16, 2019 photo, Secretary of the Army and Secretary of Defense nominee Mark Esper testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Esper, an Army veteran and former defense industry lobbyist, won Senate confirmation Tuesday to be the Secretary of Defense. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Pentagon chief aims to ensure safe passage in Persian Gulf

By ROBERT BURNS - Associated Press

FILE - In this June 26, 2019 file photo, Acting U.S. Secretary for Defense Mark Esper speaks during a press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg prior to a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Esper, an Army veteran and former defense industry lobbyist, won Senate confirmation Tuesday to be the Secretary of Defense. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool)

The Latest: Esper sworn in as new secretary of defense

Associated Press

Mark Esper, left, is sworn in as the Secretary of Defense by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, right, as is wife Leah Esper holds the Bible, during a ceremony with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, July 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Esper is sworn in as defense secretary to succeed Mattis

By ROBERT BURNS - Associated Press

Secretary of the Army and Secretary of Defense nominee Mark Esper testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Pentagon nominee regrets Turkey’s ‘drift’ from West

By ROBERT BURNS - Associated Press

Secretary of the Army and Secretary of Defense nominee Mark Esper testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Mark Esper, Defense secretary nominee, faces Senate confirmation grilling

By Lauren Toms - The Washington Times

Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, left, laughs while waiting with Acting President of the U.S. Naval War College Dr. Lewis Duncan, right, prior to the U.S. Naval War College's commencement ceremony, Friday, June 14, 2019, in Newport, R.I. (AP Photo/Stew Milne) ** FILE **

Richard Spencer takes over as acting Pentagon chief

By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times

President Donald Trump, joined by Acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, right, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, left, stands on stage in the rain during an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Mark Esper, defense secretary nominee, ready for Senate showdown

By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times

In this July 8, 2019, photo, acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper waits for the arrival of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the Pentagon. The Pentagon says that Esper expects to be formally nominated for the top job very soon, setting off a complicated leadership replacement shuffle at top Army, Navy and senior Defense Department levels(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Trump nominates Esper to be defense chief, succeeding Mattis

By ROBERT BURNS - Associated Press

Acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper waits for the arrival of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the Pentagon in Washington, Monday, July 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Senate panel sets expedited Esper confirmation hearing for defense secretary next week

By Lauren Toms - The Washington Times

In this July 8, 2019, photo, acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper waits for the arrival of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the Pentagon. The Pentagon says that Esper expects to be formally nominated for the top job very soon, setting off a complicated leadership replacement shuffle at top Army, Navy and senior Defense Department levels(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Senate committee sets Tuesday hearing on Pentagon leadership

Associated Press

Acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper waits for the arrival of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the Pentagon in Washington, Monday, July 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

New Pentagon leadership to be in hands of Senate soon

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, speaks with acting U.S. Secretary for Defense Mark Esper during a meeting of the coalition to defeat Islamic State militants at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, June 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool)

US gets no commitment from NATO for help on Iran threat

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press