**Joe Biden blocked Ben Wallace from becoming Nato’s next secretary general after Britain pushed ahead with training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s without the green light from Washington.**
The Defence Secretary had been a front-runner to succeed Jens Stoltenberg, the current alliance chief, later this year.
But he failed to secure the support of Washington amid tensions over Britain’s military support for Ukraine.
Rishi Sunak was said to have “lobbied hard” for Mr Wallace to become Nato’s next top official when he met the US president in Washington. Mr Biden later told a news conference the UK had a “very qualified individual” for the job, but stopped short of offering his support.
Mr Wallace led the way in the campaigns to arm Kyiv with modern battle tanks and long-range cruise missiles.
However, Washington was dismayed when Britain announced plans to train Ukrainian pilots and form an international effort to arm them with US-made F-16 jets, without its backing.
An alliance source said the move “ended any remaining hope” the Defence Secretary had of winning over Mr Biden.
Mr Sunak vowed to build an “international coalition” to help procure F-16 aircraft for Ukraine after a meeting with Mark Rutte, his Dutch counterpart, in May.
Downing Street released a press statement announcing London and the Hague “would work to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with combat air capabilities, supporting with everything from training to procuring F-16 jets”.
A number of European nations had already signed up to the scheme but were hesitant to make it public before securing the full support of Washington.
It was not the first time Britain deliberately announced a big-ticket item for Ukraine in the hope of pressuring Mr Biden to follow suit. The US controls the export licence on F-16s and the White House’s reluctance to send the fighter jets to Kyiv posed a challenge to other nations that operate the aircraft.
Britain is unable to supply Kyiv with F-16s as it does not own any, but Mr Wallace made clear he would support nations wishing to do so.
After months of debate, in May, Mr Wallace said any plan involving the aircraft hinged on Washington, ramping up pressure on Mr Biden. Days later, the US president relented and agreed to let allies train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and its array of weapon systems.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the White House has erred on the side of caution when supplying Kyiv, amid fears Western support could trigger an escalation from Moscow.
US officials have also expressed fears that handing weapons systems to Ukraine could result in secretive technology falling into Russian hands.
On Tuesday, The Telegraph reported Mr Biden is lining up Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s top official, to replace Jens Stoltenberg as Nato secretary general.
The report came as Mr Stoltenberg’s mandate was extended until October 2024, a similar time to when the former German defence minister’s term ends as the head of the European Commission.
Beautiful. Tories are too fond of Russian money. Wait and see the Russia report.
This is not Mr Biden’s decision to take it’s for all 31 members of NATO. Von Der Layen getting elected to direct our military defence alliance would be grim, maybe even a consideration for leaving depending on what happens.
With all due respect to cpt. Wallace, the position should be filled by someone from behind the Iron Curtain.
Not sure what to believe. Other sources claim Biden blocked Wallace because of his deployment in Northern Ireland. Others say its because of xenophobic remarks Wallace made about irish people.
Edit: typo
We got the Germans to send tank and the US to send F16s.
Looks like we’re the real leaders of NATO 🍾
Remarkable because blocking is Ben Wallace’s specialty.
Americans deserve better than orange fascists and geriatric plastics.
>On Tuesday, The Telegraph reported Mr Biden is lining up Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s top official, to replace Jens Stoltenberg as Nato secretary general.
It’s hilarious how this woman keeps failing upwards.
Biden doing more than Putin to create rifts in NATO.
4x Defensive Player of the Year and 6x All-Defensive Team. I don’t know anyone else who’s more qualified for the role. Biden front office is an embarrassment.
an 80 year old blocking a legend who blocked Shaq twice in a game, niiiiiiice
Let this sink in – in Biden’s mind, Ursula, of all goddamn people, was a better candidate for Secretary General of NATO than Ben Wallace. It might be better if he just keeps playing Minecraft with Obama and Trump and lets someone else handle these things.
Considering Big Bens dpoy awards and that he was the guy to shut down Shaq, this is another terrible decision by the Biden admin
Britain doesn’t actually buy that many weapons from the US, and this is why. A lot of stuff is either homegrown or built in co-operation with European countries: Typhoon, Tornado, and now Tempest; Storm Shadow and future hypersonic missiles; Aster, and so on. For what it’s worth, I think the Tornado would have been a better jet than the F16 for Ukraine’s needs, although I understand that logistical challenges got in the way.
It is what he deserves.gif
I think the reasons are more than that. Our dear fri3nd Wallace got Russian money too😘
UK: We want to force you to bend the knee with political pressure to give more even if you’re the ones who have already given the most
US: well, are you going to provide any F-16s?
UK: absolutely not, we don’t own any LOL
US: *picks someone else for NATO sec*
UK: *surprise pikachu face*
I would say as SACEUR is always an American, the US wouldn’t mind that much who Europeans decide to nominate.
I’d think there’s been wishes for SG being from the Eastern flank and there’s no consensus so it’s gonna be eternal Stoltenberg.
*sips tea*
Joe Biden Should Retire – Fuck dem old cunts runnin our world. Why the fuck is he considering second term? Just sit back relax and wait for your death
I would never think that could be a reason for that diplomatic c*ck block in SG debate, ‘Irish’ not so young laddie in white house really larping strong on that anti british stuff lately eh?
I assumed it was something to do with having non western SG for once, or Female or both, but British spearheading on Ukraine being actual reason, lmao old fool.
America wants loyal lapdogs not european powers having its own initiative, nothing new really for most continentals, Frenchies were right.
It seems that Biden cares more about protecting and saving Putin’s regime than he does about Ukraine’s victory. Grim.
“Sunak lobbied hard”. Weird, that guy is normally so influential 🤔
Blocking Ben Wallace? Anyone else into basketball? Does somebody finds this hilarious like I do?
Biden doesn’t decide who will be the next one per se. US together with the bullies^3 (as they were called some years ago) i.e. UK, Fr and Ge have a lot of persuasion power due to the massive administrative/hardware input in the alliance, but it doesn’t mean the rest have no voice at all. The position is more a political one anyway (more of a talking head than anything else). Jens Stoltenberg made it actually bigger than it was partially due to the circumstances partially due to his excellent diplomatic/management skills.
It is hard to believe but a small country like Estonia holds veto power over next appointee. of course like the rest of of 31 countries members.
P.S. Wallace was indeed one of the favorites. His drawback is that he is no woman (apparently it is a big deal nowadays) and that he is too “hawkish” for the current situation. Hence the delay.
F-16 deal evolution is not an issue of course.
Damit Biden, look what cocaine does.
this is proof of why Europe needs to get off of the american defense band wagon.
since Britain makes a fair bit of it’s own defense equipment like planes and tanks. we are free to give it to Ukraine. while if we Europeans want to support Ukraine with some ok jets we need joe to sign off ? madness just madness
having joe sign off on our own defense plans and veto them because it might cost him some Corpo support back across the pond
27 comments
**Joe Biden blocked Ben Wallace from becoming Nato’s next secretary general after Britain pushed ahead with training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s without the green light from Washington.**
The Defence Secretary had been a front-runner to succeed Jens Stoltenberg, the current alliance chief, later this year.
But he failed to secure the support of Washington amid tensions over Britain’s military support for Ukraine.
Rishi Sunak was said to have “lobbied hard” for Mr Wallace to become Nato’s next top official when he met the US president in Washington. Mr Biden later told a news conference the UK had a “very qualified individual” for the job, but stopped short of offering his support.
Mr Wallace led the way in the campaigns to arm Kyiv with modern battle tanks and long-range cruise missiles.
However, Washington was dismayed when Britain announced plans to train Ukrainian pilots and form an international effort to arm them with US-made F-16 jets, without its backing.
An alliance source said the move “ended any remaining hope” the Defence Secretary had of winning over Mr Biden.
Mr Sunak vowed to build an “international coalition” to help procure F-16 aircraft for Ukraine after a meeting with Mark Rutte, his Dutch counterpart, in May.
Downing Street released a press statement announcing London and the Hague “would work to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with combat air capabilities, supporting with everything from training to procuring F-16 jets”.
A number of European nations had already signed up to the scheme but were hesitant to make it public before securing the full support of Washington.
It was not the first time Britain deliberately announced a big-ticket item for Ukraine in the hope of pressuring Mr Biden to follow suit. The US controls the export licence on F-16s and the White House’s reluctance to send the fighter jets to Kyiv posed a challenge to other nations that operate the aircraft.
Britain is unable to supply Kyiv with F-16s as it does not own any, but Mr Wallace made clear he would support nations wishing to do so.
After months of debate, in May, Mr Wallace said any plan involving the aircraft hinged on Washington, ramping up pressure on Mr Biden. Days later, the US president relented and agreed to let allies train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and its array of weapon systems.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the White House has erred on the side of caution when supplying Kyiv, amid fears Western support could trigger an escalation from Moscow.
US officials have also expressed fears that handing weapons systems to Ukraine could result in secretive technology falling into Russian hands.
On Tuesday, The Telegraph reported Mr Biden is lining up Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s top official, to replace Jens Stoltenberg as Nato secretary general.
The report came as Mr Stoltenberg’s mandate was extended until October 2024, a similar time to when the former German defence minister’s term ends as the head of the European Commission.
Beautiful. Tories are too fond of Russian money. Wait and see the Russia report.
This is not Mr Biden’s decision to take it’s for all 31 members of NATO. Von Der Layen getting elected to direct our military defence alliance would be grim, maybe even a consideration for leaving depending on what happens.
With all due respect to cpt. Wallace, the position should be filled by someone from behind the Iron Curtain.
Not sure what to believe. Other sources claim Biden blocked Wallace because of his deployment in Northern Ireland. Others say its because of xenophobic remarks Wallace made about irish people.
Edit: typo
We got the Germans to send tank and the US to send F16s.
Looks like we’re the real leaders of NATO 🍾
Remarkable because blocking is Ben Wallace’s specialty.
Americans deserve better than orange fascists and geriatric plastics.
>On Tuesday, The Telegraph reported Mr Biden is lining up Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s top official, to replace Jens Stoltenberg as Nato secretary general.
It’s hilarious how this woman keeps failing upwards.
Biden doing more than Putin to create rifts in NATO.
4x Defensive Player of the Year and 6x All-Defensive Team. I don’t know anyone else who’s more qualified for the role. Biden front office is an embarrassment.
an 80 year old blocking a legend who blocked Shaq twice in a game, niiiiiiice
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PauSIF_h5E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PauSIF_h5E)
Let this sink in – in Biden’s mind, Ursula, of all goddamn people, was a better candidate for Secretary General of NATO than Ben Wallace. It might be better if he just keeps playing Minecraft with Obama and Trump and lets someone else handle these things.
Considering Big Bens dpoy awards and that he was the guy to shut down Shaq, this is another terrible decision by the Biden admin
Britain doesn’t actually buy that many weapons from the US, and this is why. A lot of stuff is either homegrown or built in co-operation with European countries: Typhoon, Tornado, and now Tempest; Storm Shadow and future hypersonic missiles; Aster, and so on. For what it’s worth, I think the Tornado would have been a better jet than the F16 for Ukraine’s needs, although I understand that logistical challenges got in the way.
It is what he deserves.gif
I think the reasons are more than that. Our dear fri3nd Wallace got Russian money too😘
UK: We want to force you to bend the knee with political pressure to give more even if you’re the ones who have already given the most
US: well, are you going to provide any F-16s?
UK: absolutely not, we don’t own any LOL
US: *picks someone else for NATO sec*
UK: *surprise pikachu face*
I would say as SACEUR is always an American, the US wouldn’t mind that much who Europeans decide to nominate.
I’d think there’s been wishes for SG being from the Eastern flank and there’s no consensus so it’s gonna be eternal Stoltenberg.
*sips tea*
Joe Biden Should Retire – Fuck dem old cunts runnin our world. Why the fuck is he considering second term? Just sit back relax and wait for your death
I would never think that could be a reason for that diplomatic c*ck block in SG debate, ‘Irish’ not so young laddie in white house really larping strong on that anti british stuff lately eh?
I assumed it was something to do with having non western SG for once, or Female or both, but British spearheading on Ukraine being actual reason, lmao old fool.
America wants loyal lapdogs not european powers having its own initiative, nothing new really for most continentals, Frenchies were right.
It seems that Biden cares more about protecting and saving Putin’s regime than he does about Ukraine’s victory. Grim.
“Sunak lobbied hard”. Weird, that guy is normally so influential 🤔
Blocking Ben Wallace? Anyone else into basketball? Does somebody finds this hilarious like I do?
Biden doesn’t decide who will be the next one per se. US together with the bullies^3 (as they were called some years ago) i.e. UK, Fr and Ge have a lot of persuasion power due to the massive administrative/hardware input in the alliance, but it doesn’t mean the rest have no voice at all. The position is more a political one anyway (more of a talking head than anything else). Jens Stoltenberg made it actually bigger than it was partially due to the circumstances partially due to his excellent diplomatic/management skills.
It is hard to believe but a small country like Estonia holds veto power over next appointee. of course like the rest of of 31 countries members.
P.S. Wallace was indeed one of the favorites. His drawback is that he is no woman (apparently it is a big deal nowadays) and that he is too “hawkish” for the current situation. Hence the delay.
F-16 deal evolution is not an issue of course.
Damit Biden, look what cocaine does.
this is proof of why Europe needs to get off of the american defense band wagon.
since Britain makes a fair bit of it’s own defense equipment like planes and tanks. we are free to give it to Ukraine. while if we Europeans want to support Ukraine with some ok jets we need joe to sign off ? madness just madness
having joe sign off on our own defense plans and veto them because it might cost him some Corpo support back across the pond