Why the UK defense secretary’s departure is a loss for the ‘special relationship’
Tom Rogan
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The resignation of the United Kingdom’s four-year-serving defense secretary is a loss for the U.S.-U.K. special relationship. Ben Wallace was a resolute voice for Western security interests.
Serving under three successive prime ministers, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and incumbent Rishi Sunak, Wallace resisted political pressure to cut the defense budget. Instead, he was instrumental in ensuring that that budget remained above the 2%-of-GDP NATO minimum target. That sets the U.K. apart from far too many other NATO allies. Moreover, the U.K.’s retention and expansion of 2%-plus defense spending is crucial toward its continued credibility as the second most important Western security actor.
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The departed defense secretary was also a stalwart supporter of Ukraine during its invasion by Russia. Wallace rushed weapons to Ukraine before Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. And, albeit to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chagrin, Wallace rightly pushed Kyiv to show more public gratitude for the Western support it has received.
Wallace’s departure will be a cause of concern for the Pentagon. A plain-speaking military veteran, Wallace knew both how to navigate the British military bureaucracy and leverage British influence with allies. Although Wallace’s greater risk tolerance for escalation with Russia sometimes aggravated Washington, Wallace established a practical relationship with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Key to U.S. interests, Wallace moved the U.K. into closer support of the U.S. military on China-related concerns. Wallace led the U.K. effort to establish the AUKUS submarine partnership with the U.S. and Australia. He also supervised the deployment of a new U.K. carrier strike group through the South China Sea. More quietly, Wallace also authorized numerous China-focused U.K. submarine deployments in cooperation with the U.S. Navy.
In turn, even if Washington welcomes the politer style of Britain’s new Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, it will regret Wallace’s departure.
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After all, with Wallace gone, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet is now inclined toward compromising with China rather than closer consolidation with the U.S. Sunak’s impulse and that of his Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is to view China relations primarily through the prism of trade rather than security. Cleverly again emphasized as much in a visit to Beijing this week. Shapps fits within this vein of thought, suggesting last month that “there are many times when we should be, and do, welcome Chinese investment.” He is also far less likely to advocate forcefully for increased defense spending.
In sum, then, in Washington, at least, Wallace will be missed.