FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Defense Minister Ursula Von der Leyen on Friday called for clarity from the United States after the abrupt resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

"Because the United States has such a prominent role and responsibility in the global security architecture, it is important for everyone to quickly get clarity about succession and the future course," the minister said in a statement.

(Reporting by Tom Sims, editing by Tassilo Hummel)