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Shapps Named New British Defense Minister


Grant Shapps leaves 10 Downing Street after being confirmed as Britain's new defense secretary in London, Aug. 31, 2023.
Grant Shapps leaves 10 Downing Street after being confirmed as Britain's new defense secretary in London, Aug. 31, 2023.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak named Grant Shapps as his new defense minister Thursday following the resignation of defense chief Ben Wallace.

Shapps had been serving as secretary of energy security.

Wallace, who led Britain’s military response to the war in Ukraine, signaled his intention to step down last month and issued a formal letter of resignation Thursday after four years on the job.

Wallace said the defense ministry is “more modern, better funded and more confident” than when he took the post in 2019.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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