UK Defense Minister Resigns | the world

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who played a key role in supporting Ukraine after the Russian invasion, formally resigned on Thursday (31). The government announced that he will be replaced by Grand Shops, who will be in charge of the energy sector.

Wallace, 53, announced his retirement from political life last month after spending nine years in government, four of them as defense minister.

“I was elected vice president in 2005 and after so many years, it was time to devote myself to aspects of life that I had neglected and explore new opportunities,” he wrote in his resignation letter released by the government’s communications service.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office announced minutes later that Shabbs, 54, had been appointed to the defense portfolio.

The British press believes the change is part of a deeper ministerial overhaul that will allow Sunak to prepare his candidacy for the 2024 general election.

Wallace has played a key role in Western support for Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.

Ben Wallace, the candidate for NATO’s Secretary General, did not receive US support and Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg was re-elected.

Wallace was the longest serving Minister of Defense since Winston Churchill.

He was the only senior minister to hold the same post in the last three governments: his partner, Boris Johnson, in Liz Truss’s interim government and, finally, in the Sunak administration. .