SIR – It appears Joe Biden has
scuppered Ben Wallace’s chances of becoming secretary-general of Nato.
Britain needs to learn that this is not the behaviour of a friend.
John Jukes
Pembroke
SIR – France and Germany are reportedly lobbying for the next Nato secretary-general to come from an EU state, despite their failures to pay the full Nato membership fee. Indeed, the EU’s response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has been pathetic.
It is also worth remembering that Emmanuel Macron, the French president, once described Nato as “brain dead”. Meanwhile, there are questions over Joe Biden’s powers of judgment.
Ben Wallace remains the best candidate.
Archie Douglas
Whitton, Middlesex
SIR – The so-called special relationship between Britain and the United States has for many years been an illusion.
The US will do whatever it perceives to be best for the US, and is not worried if it upsets Britain in the process. Rishi Sunak went over recently and basically came back with nothing.
As a nation we would do better looking elsewhere to develop our trading and defence relationships, especially as the threat from China grows.
Stan Kirby
East Malling, Kent
SIR – I am not surprised by the reluctance to make a British citizen secretary-general of Nato, given the
size of our country’s Armed Forces.
Maurice Burbidge
Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex
SIR – By any historical measure the Army is too small. However, just what size Army we need is dependent on what it is for. Is it an expeditionary force, a garrison or all things to all people?
The question facing this Government is the one that has faced all governments (and been evaded by them) since 1982: can we afford an independent air force? The RAF’s front-line fighter (the Typhoon) is effectively confined to Europe because, unlike the French Rafale, it is not carrier-capable. This means that our power-projection assets (the aircraft carriers Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth) are not as effective as they could be.
The Falklands War demonstrated that seaborne air power is essential and that, for a maritime power such as Britain, a land-based air force imposes severe limitations on our ability to defend our vital maritime and overseas interests.
The current functions of the RAF could be shared by the Navy and the Army, providing a huge saving in organisational and procurement costs. At the very least the RAF should never again be permitted to procure front-line aircraft that cannot operate from a carrier.
John Neimer
Stoborough, Dorset