Ben Wallace resigns as UK defense minister

Ben Wallace has served as Britain's defense minister since 2019 and announced his intention to step down from his position and politics at the beginning of the summer. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, accepting Wallace's resignation, noted his role in supporting Ukraine Ben Wallace

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace officially announced his resignation, he sent a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

“After much deliberation, I have decided to ask permission to leave my position,” it says.

During his four years in charge of the defense establishment, Wallace said the British Armed Forces performed well and showed professionalism, "whether it was the evacuation from Kabul, our response to COVID, Ukraine or Sudan " . He thanked Rishi Sunak for his support and noted his contribution to the development of the Armed Forces as Prime Minister and before that as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

In a response letter, Sunak noted Wallace's outstanding service, during which he showed "strategic foresight" and selflessly carried out his duties. In particular, the prime minister said he was proud of Wallace's "leading role" in rallying allies who supported Ukraine after the outbreak of hostilities. As the BBC recalls, under Wallace, London was the first to provide Kiev with weapons such as Challenger 2 tanks, depleted uranium shells and Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

Sunak stated that he "fully understands" Wallace's desire to step down. “You leave the post - with my gratitude and respect,” he concluded.

Wallace announced his resignation from office and politics at the beginning of the summer. He cited fatigue and a long term in the civil service as the reasons for his resignation. “I will not run next time. I entered politics in the Scottish Parliament in 1999. This is 24 years old. I spent more than seven years with three phones by my bed,” the minister said. The Times newspaper attributed the resignation of the head of the Ministry of Defense to the fact that Sunak could not convince US President Joe Biden and other world leaders to support Wallace's candidacy for the post of NATO Secretary General instead of Jens Stoltenberg. According to the Telegraph, Biden blocked Wallace's candidacy because London decided to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets without US approval.

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Among possible successors to Wallace, sources of the Financial Times name the head of the Department of Energy Grant Shapps, the chief secretary of the treasury John Glen and the secretary of the office of the cabinet Jeremy Quinn, who previously served as deputy secretary of defense.

Wallace has served as Defense Secretary since July 2019. Prior to that, in different years he held the posts of ENT Commissioner of the Treasury, Deputy Minister for Northern Ireland, Deputy Minister of the Interior. In 2010 he was elected to the House of Commons. Before serving in the Scottish Parliament, Wallace served in the army - he was an officer in the Scottish Guards.