British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace throws his hat in the ring for a successor to outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. “I’ve always said this is a good job. It’s a job I’d like to have,” Wallace told the German news agency in Berlin, where he met his colleague Boris Pistorius on Wednesday. Wallace: Well, NATO Secretary General would be a fantastic job and NATO is extremely important to the security of all of us. I am happy to do my part to ensure that you can lie safely in bed at night.”
However, he made it clear that his current job as Defense Secretary in the British government is also satisfactory. He feels like Pistorius, who also works in a time of reform and investment. Wallace: “These ministries have been saving for 30 years and now it’s the other way around.”
The Conservative came to the post of Defense Secretary under Boris Johnson in 2019. Shortly before the Russian army invaded Ukraine in early 2022, he published a widely acclaimed essay in which he strongly warned against the ambitions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Wallace has long been the most popular cabinet member among active members of the Tory party. With his calm and level-headed demeanor, he made an impression in the country during the chaotic evacuation of Western troops from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021. He was briefly traded as a possible successor to Johnson.
Stoltenberg’s term as NATO Secretary General was recently extended due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, but will expire at the end of September. In February, he rejected reports of a possible further extension of his term in office. The Norwegian has led the alliance since the end of 2014.
The British newspaper “The Sun” had reported that former German Defense Minister and current President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was a candidate. Von der Leyen had dismissed reports of her alleged planned move to the top of the Western Defense Alliance.
The member states of the coalition usually agree behind the scenes who will lead the organization. An American is usually the military commander-in-chief, while the secretary-general comes from the ranks of the other, mostly European, member states.
Wallace was convinced that Turkey’s continued resistance to Sweden’s entry into the alliance could be overcome. He had spoken to Turkey repeatedly. “Sweden has done a lot and responded to a lot of Turkish concerns, sometimes beyond,” Wallace said. “It has changed the previous legislation, which was considered to tolerate terrorism in Turkey. That is the opinion of Türkiye. I’m not saying I see it that way, but I was concerned.” Sweden has done a lot and its accession is a victory for NATO. Wallace: “And I’m confident that we can talk to Turkey and take away worries and bring the Swedes in.”
His country’s initiative for an alliance to train Western warplanes and later deliver them to Ukraine is a signal to both the attacked country and the aggressor Russia. “The proposal is primarily to say to the Ukrainians that if we are going to train pilots and work with other countries for the long-term future of Ukraine, we are happy to do that,” Wallace said. He referred to other ongoing training programs for Ukrainians.
The Ukrainians have made it clear that they do not want Eurofighters, which are called Typhoons in the British version. The first choice of the Ukrainians is the American model F-16. Neither Britain nor Germany would have these planes. However, both were among the states that create the conditions for military aid to Ukraine and make things possible. “So it’s about saying we’re open to that and we can make it happen,” Wallace said. “It is not an invitation. It should express that there are no fundamental reservations about it.”
A fighter alliance also illustrates a long-term commitment. “These fighter jets are not a solution for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. These are very complex systems on which crews must be trained. You have to learn to fight first,” Wallace said. It is important for Russia to understand that the international community is “stronger than ever”. Wallace: «In Russia they expected us not to stay together. The opposite is the case. We first debated anti-tank weapons and now we’re here talking about F-16s.” (aeg/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
