UK appoints new defense secretary with no military experience
The British government appointed former energy minister Grant Shapps as defense secretary on Thursday, replacing Ben Wallace, who said he wanted to step down after four years in the role and would not stand for re-election in the next general election, Reuters reported.
Ben Wallace, whose name has been floated as a potential successor to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, took a leading role in shaping the UK's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Under his leadership, the UK provided £2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) in military aid to Kyiv in 2022 and became the first country to start supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles in May of this year, to help end the largest war in Europe since World War II.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who the Kiev press is writing on background that he is also expected to be reshuffled, thanked Ben Wallace on Thursday for his "energy and dedication," saying on Twitter: "His authority inspired other countries to join in helping Ukraine."
Reuters notes that it is unlikely that Shapps' appointment will change the UK's support for Ukraine against Russia. However, it is a surprising move, raising questions about his lack of experience in the military, the news agency notes.
Consolidating his team ahead of the expected national elections next year and after Wallace resigned, Sunak is likely to use Shapps' media communication skills in his efforts to overturn the Labour opposition's lead in opinion polls.
Several Conservative MPs in the ruling party have expressed surprise at Shapps' appointment, questioning his experience in the field of military affairs.
Grant Shapps knows "very little about defense" and it will take him "some time to get up to speed," a former head of the British Army's General Staff has also said. Lord Dannatt told Sky News that Ben Wallace "did a good job, but he is leaving with work in progress," adding: "And now we have a new defense secretary who knows very little about defense, and this is a complex portfolio. It will take him some time to get up to speed. I think there is a risk that the debate on defense resources will stagnate, at least until Grant Shapps is able to get to grips with his portfolio," Richard Dannatt, cited by The Guardian, said.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
