“Britain supports its membership Ukrainian in the NATO and that path is open to them, although political realities may slow down the process,” said his defense minister United Kingdom Ben Wallace on the sidelines of the event Shangri-La Dialogue about security in Singapore.
He noted that membership cannot be admitted during a war and that the appropriate course is to continue supporting and equipping Ukraine for short- and long-term security.
“The best we can do to help her Ukraine it’s now to help her defeat Russia,” said Ben Wallace. “After that, to make sure they are ready, capable and resilient.”
Ukraine’s accession to NATO is on the agenda of the Atlantic Alliance summit in Vilnius. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev wants “a clear decision” on its accession during the Vilnius summit.
Hannah Celeste, director of Ukrainian Prism specializing in Foreign Policy and International Security, said in Singapore that joining the NATO it will be a political decision.
“We don’t expect to see a strong decision (on Ukraine’s accession) to VilniusHannah Celeste said. “But at least we hope for a detailed road map,” according to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.
Britain, along with Western allies, has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars worth of military aid and weapons systems since the Russian invasion. More recently, London supplied Ukraine with missiles Cruise Storm Shadowwho have achieved 100% success in hitting targets, according to Ben Wallace.
Security guarantees to Ukraine are also on the table, the British defense secretary said, noting that such guarantees can be expressed in mutual defense agreements up to the supply of arms and ammunition.
In Asia, Britain is committed to supporting the US and its allies and maintaining freedom of navigation in the oceans, Ben Wallace said, noting that two British warships are in the region and will be increased.
British aid to Australia to develop the next generation of submarines under the agreement AUKUS it is “incredibly important to all of us,” he said.
“The rise of China, the scale of China’s military investment, inevitably…encourages like-minded allies in the region and the world to work together even more.”
Ben Wallace’s name has been floated as a possible successor to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He said he “wouldn’t say no if offered the position”, but it was up to the member states to decide.
Source: News Beast
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