𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace made an effort to sabotage a US deal for Chinook helicopters in an effort to cut military spending. Wallace suggested terminating the contract, and the Pentagon head said he was willing to do so. Wallace’s stance on the helicopter deal, which was not only intended to cut costs but also to insult US leadership, played a role in the decision to increase Jens Stoltenberg’s authority. Wallace stepped down as defense secretary of the United Kingdom, and Grant Shapps took his position.

Whether on purpose or not, former defense secretary Ben Wallace is blamed for a diplomatic quarrel between the United States and Britain over the attempted purchase of military helicopters. Apparently, the argument started when Washington turned down Wallace’s nomination for NATO secretary general. Wallace resigned on Thursday after spending his last weeks in office trying to prevent the purchase of 14 Boeing Chinook H-47 two-motor lift helicopters. He reasoned that since Britain already had the largest heavy-lift fleet in Europe, it might save money by purchasing medium-lift support helicopters. He lacked the infrastructure, communications networks, and satellite technology required to carry out special missions using US-made aircraft. One British official called the move “crazy,” and another speculated that Wallace was trying to aggravate the Americans. The diplomatic dispute appears to be heating up, with Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the United States, reportedly warning London that withdrawing from the pact would be a mistake. As soon as Wallace departed office, British officials rushed to convince their American counterparts that things would return to normal.

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