Latest news with #GwynJenkins
Spectator
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
The crisis facing the Royal Navy
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins is stepping into the role of First Sea Lord at a difficult time, with the Royal Navy's fleet in a sorry state. On 22 April, Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) set sail on an eight-month publicity tour, leaving British waters sparsely defended. Keir Starmer posed on the flight deck of HMS The Prince of Wales, his battleship grey hair perfectly set like a middle-aged Ken doll. He said the CSG25 shows 'the UK's leadership on global issues and security and defence'. It really doesn't. Britain could only field one of its two carriers, one destroyer, one frigate and one attack submarine. The Royal Navy also has insufficient logistics vessels to support the deployment, with no new solid store ships expected before the end of this decade. Today, besides coastal patrol vessels, all we have to defend British shores are one seaworthy destroyer, two frigates and one attack submarine. The Royal Navy has shrunk in the teeth of defence cuts and each new efficiency drive makes it smaller.
Russia Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
British general accused of killings cover-up takes helm of Royal Navy
The British government has appointed General Gwyn Jenkins as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. Approved by King Charles III on Thursday, the decision follows unresolved allegations that Jenkins had failed to report suspected war crimes in Afghanistan and later obstructed the relocation of key witnesses. The general succeeds Admiral Ben Key, who stepped down last week amid an ongoing misconduct investigation. Media reports suggest that the probe centers on Key's alleged affair with a more junior female colleague. Jenkins came under scrutiny two years ago when the BBC reported that the then-Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff had failed to forward evidence of Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers executing handcuffed detainees in Afghanistan to the Royal Military Police. At the time, Jenkins did not respond to the allegations. The UK Ministry of Defense stated that it was 'not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry.' In April 2024, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed Jenkins—then Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff—as National Security Adviser. However, the appointment was later reversed by the incoming government led by Keir Starmer. While Starmer declined to comment on individual appointments, he emphasized the need for an 'open and transparent process' for future nominations. Media outlets attributed the reversal to Jenkins' implication in the ongoing inquiry. Earlier this month, BBC Panorama reported that Jenkins had overseen the rejection of hundreds of relocation applications submitted by Afghan commandos who had served alongside British forces and possessed direct knowledge of UK military operations. The report stated that these rejections effectively blocked key witnesses from reaching Britain and testifying in the public inquiry into the Afghan conflict.
Russia Today
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
General accused of Afghan cover-up takes helm of Royal Navy
The British government has appointed General Gwyn Jenkins as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. Approved by King Charles III on Thursday, the decision follows unresolved allegations that Jenkins had failed to report suspected war crimes in Afghanistan and later obstructed the relocation of key witnesses. The general succeeds Admiral Ben Key, who stepped down last week amid an ongoing misconduct investigation. Media reports suggest that the probe centers on Key's alleged affair with a more junior female colleague. Jenkins came under scrutiny two years ago when the BBC reported that the then-Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff had failed to forward evidence of Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers executing handcuffed detainees in Afghanistan to the Royal Military Police. At the time, Jenkins did not respond to the allegations. The UK Ministry of Defense stated that it was 'not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry.' In April 2024, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed Jenkins—then Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff—as National Security Adviser. However, the appointment was later reversed by the incoming government led by Keir Starmer. While Starmer declined to comment on individual appointments, he emphasized the need for an 'open and transparent process' for future nominations. Media outlets attributed the reversal to Jenkins' implication in the ongoing inquiry. Earlier this month, BBC Panorama reported that Jenkins had overseen the rejection of hundreds of relocation applications submitted by Afghan commandos who had served alongside British forces and possessed direct knowledge of UK military operations. The report stated that these rejections effectively blocked key witnesses from reaching Britain and testifying in the public inquiry into the Afghan conflict.
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
As a Navy man, I welcome the first ever Marine to head the Service. But I don't envy him
So now we have a new First Sea Lord – the head of the Royal Navy, also known as the Chief of the Naval Staff. General Sir Gwyn Jenkins will be the 43rd person to assume this position since the title changed from First Naval Lord in 1904. He is also the first Royal Marine to get the job, and therefore the first one who has not commanded a warship. For those stuck in 1904 this will be a problem. Most, me included, see a highly capable officer with a breadth of combat experience that would leave most warship captains, me included, in the dust. Historically, in any case, it's only fair to let a Marine command the RN. Back in Napoleonic times the Royal Marines were broken up into small parties carried as part of a warship's crew and under the command of the ship's captain. To add insult to injury, on paper the parties were assembled into larger formations requiring colonels and generals to command them. Though these colonels and generals were not normally required to do any duty their salaries were still paid, usually as a lucrative perk given to serving naval officers on top of their regular pay. Uniform and history aside, Jenkins has got one hell of a job to do. The unfortunate departure of his predecessor will be a mere pinprick given the mountain he now has to climb. He is taking over a 30,000-person company that has been under-resourced for the last three decades and which attracts disproportionate attention when things go wrong. Threats to the UK and our interests are climbing fast; evidence that resources will increase to match this is not. This creates a political minefield that will take all his special forces training to navigate – and that's before we even get to the risk to our ships and people due to lack of funds. Given that he has been the victim of one leak campaign already, and is the subject of an ongoing investigation, he at least will not need to be reminded that he takes over during an unusually vicious period of inter-service rivalry. With the powers of the next Chief of Defence Staff set to increase under the new strategic headquarters construct, he will be keen to set about managing that relationship so he can lead the navy 'up and out'. The Royal Navy's reputation as a fighting force at sea remains good, as it should. No matter how thin it has become, it finds a way to punch above its weight. However, looking at what would happen to the Senior Service in the early days of a serious fight will worry Jenkins profoundly, especially as the Carrier Strike Group gets ever closer to the missile-haunted Red Sea. On a more positive note there are some exciting build programs in train for him to oversee, including two new classes of frigates and new nuclear submarines. Uncrewed systems are being developed at a decent rate but the system that allows smaller companies to compete here needs a complete overhaul. Without enough money, he should recognise this as a cheap(er) way to increase lethality and mass. The role of the Royal Marine Commandos will also need careful handling given the near total disappearance of the ships required to put them ashore in decent numbers. Nothing is safe from the Treasury knife these days but Jenkins will be perfectly placed to ensure this core element of Naval fighting power not just survives but continues to excel. The General may find himself alone fighting the Navy's corner in the not too distant future, as the other Service chiefs change over and dark blue uniforms disappear. It's to be hoped he's ready for that. It's a wonderful privilege to lead what was once the world's pre-eminent fighting force but the baggage that comes with the job is heavy. In General Gwyn we have a first class leader to steer our ship through this, irrespective of his uniform. He has the best job title in the world but perhaps also the hardest task. I wish him fair winds and following seas: but I fear he may not get them.
Arab News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
New Royal Navy chief under renewed scrutiny over Afghanistan war crimes evidence
LONDON: The man chosen as the new head of the UK's Royal Navy was previously accused of failing to report evidence of war crimes allegedly committed by British forces in Afghanistan. Gen. Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who was appointed on Thursday, also faced allegations this week that he oversaw the rejection of hundreds of resettlement applications from former Afghan special forces members who served alongside British troops against the Taliban, The Guardian newspaper reported. Jenkins replaces Adm. Ben Key, who stepped down last week over allegations of misconduct. The new navy chief previously led UK Special Forces in Afghanistan during the war against the Taliban. That conflict is under renewed scrutiny in Britain following recent fresh allegations of war crimes involving members of Britain's elite Special Air Service and Special Boat Service. In 2023, it emerged that Jenkins had been warned in writing in 2011 that SAS troops had claimed to have executed handcuffed detainees in Afghanistan. Rather than refer this evidence to the Royal Military Police, the BBC reported at the time, Jenkins placed the documents in a safe. However, The Telegraph newspaper reported that Jenkins did pass the evidence up the chain of command at the time. This week, an investigation by the BBC current affairs program 'Panorama' revealed that Jenkins personally appointed an officer under his command to assess the Afghan resettlement applications. Thousands of former elite Afghan soldiers were rejected, despite credible evidence of their service alongside British counterparts. The UK's Ministry of Defence said it was 'not appropriate … to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry,' referring to a public inquiry underway in the UK to investigate the war crimes allegations. There was 'no evidence' that Afghan resettlement applications were rejected to prevent the former soldiers from giving evidence to the war crimes inquiry, it added. Defence Secretary John Healey on Thursday described Jenkins as a 'proven leader with a distinguished career in both the military and at the core of government.' He added: 'I know he will deliver in this pivotal role, making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.' Sarah Atherton, a former Tory MP who sat on the Defence Select Committee, told The Telegraph: 'Military personnel, especially senior leaders, are held to high ethical and behavior standards. 'If somebody is facing an allegation … I know it's alleged, but it's just very strange to appoint someone who is in this position, given the circumstances. That is bizarre.' Jenkins said after his appointment that he wanted to 'accelerate' the Royal Navy's return to a 'war fighting force that is ready for conflict.'
