The British government announced on Thursday that it will replace its outgoing defense secretary, Ben Wallace. Wallace, a former soldier who was highly regarded in the White House and Pentagon, became a symbol of Britain’s unwavering support for Ukraine in its conflict against Russia.
Grant Shapps, a politically astute Conservative Party operative, has been chosen as Wallace’s replacement. Shapps has indicated that he will continue to support Ukraine. While he has held multiple cabinet positions and is a close ally of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Shapps has less experience in foreign policy and security compared to Wallace.
Wallace’s departure has been anticipated for some time, as he was previously considered for the position of NATO secretary general but was not successful. Shapps’ appointment came as a surprise, as his name was not widely mentioned as a potential candidate for the role, which has gained significant prominence since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Over the past year, Shapps has already held four ministerial positions, a period of turbulence for the British government. In the chaotic final days of Liz Truss’ tenure as Prime Minister, she appointed him as home secretary. Prior to that, he served as transport secretary under Boris Johnson, where he earned a reputation as an adept government spokesperson during tense moments.
Support for Ukraine remains strong across the political spectrum in Britain, although there have been occasional tensions between Wallace and the Treasury regarding his requests for larger increases in the defense budget.
In his resignation letter to Sunak, Wallace stated, “I know you agree with me that we must not return to the days where defense was viewed as a discretionary spend by government and savings were achieved by hollowing out.” He added, ”We both share the belief that now is the time to invest.”
Wallace, a former captain in the Scots Guards, had aspired to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO secretary general. However, despite his positive reputation in Washington, his candidacy did not receive the support of the United States.
Recently, Shapps visited Ukraine in his capacity as energy secretary and announced a British government loan to the country’s state nuclear energy company.
“I am looking forward to working with the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who defend our nation’s security,” Shapps stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. ”And continuing the U.K.’s support for Ukraine in their fight against Putin’s barbaric invasion.”
2023-08-31 06:52:19
Post from www.nytimes.com
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