Joe Biden ‘blocked Ben Wallace from high NATO job in fighter jet row’

Joe Biden blocked Ben Wallace from changing into Nato’s subsequent secretary-general in a fighter jet row, it has been claimed.

The Defence Secretary had been a favorite to take over from Jens Stoltenberg as head of the army alliance.

But Mr Wallace is claimed to have didn’t safe the assist of Washington – the biggest army energy in Nato – after Britain pushed to coach Ukrainian pilots on F-16s with out its backing.

A Nato supply advised the Telegraph the transfer “ended any remaining hope” the Defence Secretary had of successful over the US President.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in May introduced the UK would assist spearhead a global effort to supply the US-made plane for war-torn Ukraine amid Russia‘s invasion.

Join our free WhatsApp community for the latest politics news

The announcement piled strain on the US, which controls the export licence on the fighter jets.

Days later, Mr Wallace mentioned the choice to ship F-16s to Kyiv lies with the US.

Mr Biden subsequently agreed to let allies prepare Ukrainian pilots on the fighter jets.

It comes after studies the US President is backing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the Nato job.

Mr Biden was mentioned to be pushing for the previous German defence minister to take over from former Norwegian prime minister Mr Stoltenberg, whose management will finish in autumn 2024.

But The Times cited senior Washington sources as denying Mrs von der Leyen was Mr Biden’s choose.

Mr Wallace had pushed to develop into the primary Briton to steer the alliance since 2003.

But final month he admitted: “It’s not going to happen” and there are “a lot of unresolved issues in Nato”.