UK, Ukraine MPs tout for Johnson to be next NATO chief
4 Min Read
Several Ukraine and UK MPs support Boris Johnson's appointment as the next NATO chief due to his support for Ukraine as PM.
-
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Archive)
Tory and Ukrainian MPs support the idea of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson being the NATO alliance's next secretary-general, The Telegraph reported.
With NATO's current chief Jens Stoltenberg expected to stand down in September 2023, Johnson is the latest British politician to be touted for the role following Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and former PMs Theresa May and David Cameron.
According to The Telegraph, "The timing of the role would allow Mr. Johnson some time to recharge his batteries after he stands down as Prime Minister on September 6."
The newspaper considered that "Britain is also trusted by the Baltic states and Mr. Johnson personally has won international credit for helping to build the international coalition against Russia’s Vladimir Putin."
"Absolutely staunch support for Ukraine"
MP Mark Francois, a senior Tory Party member of the defense select committee, considered that "people will probably argue over Boris Johnson’s legacy for years – but one thing which is clearly inarguable is his absolutely staunch support for Ukraine."
"If he were to apply to become the Secretary General of Nato, I suspect he could rely on President Zelensky for a reference,” he told The Telegraph.
Former Brexit Minister David Jones also explained that Johnson “has actually led the Western response to Putin. It was Boris who went to Sweden and Finland and urged the leaders of both countries to make applications for Nato membership which of course they did."
"He is a national embarrassment"
On the other hand, Richard Dannatt, former head of the British Army, indicated that he could not tout for Johnson to be NATO's next chief.
The Telegraph quoted Dannatt as saying that "undoubtedly he [Johnson] has done a lot of good things and our full square support for Ukraine is fantastic."
"But I am afraid it is the personal stuff, the lack of integrity, the lack of trust. Frankly, we don’t want to expose Boris Johnson on the international stage for more ridicule. He is a national embarrassment."
In this matter, a senior British Defense Ministry source told The Telegraph that "the reality is that Nato sec gens are appointed by unanimous decision. Any country can veto" Johnson's appointment.
“Do you think President Macron would nominate Boris Johnson to be the sec gen of Nato? It is a challenge for a Brit full stop. You need the United States to support you and the French to say ‘yes’,” the source revealed.
Ukrainian MP: Johnson will always support Ukraine
From a Ukrainian point of view, MP Oleksii Goncharenko said that "Boris Johnson’s leadership during this war has ensured vital military, economic and humanitarian supplies have been provided to Ukraine."
Goncharenko said that "the UK has been one of our most important supporters and has imposed meaningful sanctions on Russia."
The Ukrainian official considered that Johnson "would be the right person to take over from Jens Stoltenberg as he understands the challenges that Nato and the West face."
"He [Johnson] will always support Ukraine in our fight against the 21st century’s Hitler and will support Nato members and Nato goals with the same level of unstinting support," Goncharenko claimed.
It is noteworthy that the next NATO Secretary-General was due to be appointed this September, but the decision was delayed due to the war in Ukraine.
