LONDON: On August 31, the office of the Prime Minister confirmed the resignation of Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary of the United Kingdom. Wallace had previously announced his intention to step down during the upcoming cabinet reshuffle of the U.K. government, and that decision has now been executed.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his appreciation for Wallace's contributions in a letter addressed to the 53-year-old former Defence Secretary. Sunak commended Wallace's unwavering dedication and exceptional skills during his tenure, particularly highlighting his pivotal role in garnering Western allies' support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Sunak's letter acknowledged Wallace's perceptive insight into Vladimir Putin's true intentions concerning Ukraine, recognizing that he foresaw the unfolding situation earlier than most. The Prime Minister also credited Wallace's resolute efforts to secure military resources for Kyiv before the Russian incursion, which significantly bolstered Ukraine's ability to resist the invasion.
Wallace, a former army officer, had initially been nominated by the U.K. to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as the NATO secretary general. However, he faced a setback in his candidacy due to the lack of essential backing from the United States. Consequently, Stoltenberg extended his term as the head of the alliance.
In his statement announcing his impending resignation in July, Wallace clarified that his decision was not motivated by his belief that the Conservative Party, currently trailing the main opposition Labour Party in polls, would lose the next election. Instead, he cited the restructuring of his constituency in northwest England as the reason behind his choice to step down.
Having served in the U.K. parliament for 18 years, Wallace holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Conservative Defence Secretary since Winston Churchill. Notably, he was the sole senior minister to retain his position during the turbulent transition from his political ally Boris Johnson to the short-lived tenures of Liz Truss and subsequently Rishi Sunak.
Before assuming the role of Defence Secretary in 2019, Wallace held the position of Security Minister under Theresa May's administration. Throughout his political career, he enjoyed robust support from grassroots members of the Conservative Party and was frequently regarded as a potential party leader. However, he never actively pursued the top leadership position.
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