Controversy Surrounds Appointment of New Royal Navy Chief
The appointment of General Sir Gwyn Jenkins as the new head of the Royal Navy has sparked controversy amid allegations of war crimes committed by the SAS in Afghanistan. According to a report by The Guardian, Jenkins has been accused of failing to report evidence of war crimes committed by the SAS in Afghanistan, where he led UK Special Forces (UKSF).
Jenkins, the first Royal Marine to become First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, replaces Admiral Sir Ben Key, who was removed last week while under investigation over allegations of misconduct. However, Jenkins’ appointment has raised concerns after reports emerged that he oversaw the rejection of UK resettlement claims made by Afghan troops who served with British special forces. The BBC’s Panorama programme reported that Jenkins appointed a UKSF officer under his command to assess the Afghan commando applications to resettle in Britain, but thousands of applications from individuals with credible evidence of service with Afghan special forces were subsequently rejected.
The allegations against Jenkins are particularly concerning given that he led UKSF in Afghanistan during a period when alleged war crimes were committed, which are the subject of a public inquiry looking at the period between mid-2010 and mid-2013. In 2011, Jenkins was warned in writing that SAS soldiers were claiming to have executed handcuffed detainees in Afghanistan, but it took a whistleblower to inform the military police of the existence of those details. Ministry of Defence sources say Jenkins did pass on concerns up his chain of command.
The Guardian reports that Jenkins was in line to become the UK’s national security adviser until Keir Starmer last year cancelled the appointment made by his predecessor, Rishi Sunak. Defence Secretary John Healey has defended Jenkins’ appointment, saying he is a "proven leader with a distinguished career in both the military and at the core of government." However, Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Helen Maguire has expressed concerns, saying the claims relating to Jenkins and the rejection of the applications by Afghan veterans are "extremely alarming and leave a number of serious questions unanswered."
Iain Overton, the executive director for Action on Armed Violence, has also criticised Jenkins’ appointment, saying it is "profoundly troubling" and that "justice demands scrutiny – not promotion." Jenkins has said in a statement that the navy needs to "accelerate our return to a war fighting force that is ready for conflict." The Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, has described Jenkins as one of the outstanding Royal Marines of his generation, who brings "a wealth of operational and organisational expertise."
The appointment comes as the activities of UK special forces in Afghanistan are under the spotlight again, after former personnel accused colleagues of committing war crimes there and in Iraq. Members of the Special Boat Service (SBS), the Royal Navy’s elite special forces regiment, are accused for the first time, along with soldiers from the SAS. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson has said the department is fully committed to supporting the independent inquiry relating to Afghanistan, but it is not appropriate to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry, or to speculate on outcomes.
As noted by The Guardian, Jenkins has had a distinguished career, serving in Afghanistan and becoming the military assistant to the then Prime Minister David Cameron in 2012. He was promoted to brigadier and took up a civilian appointment in the Cabinet Office as the deputy national security adviser for conflict before returning to the military in 2017. The controversy surrounding his appointment raises questions about the accountability and transparency of the military’s actions in Afghanistan.
In response to the allegations, The Guardian has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability within the military. As the article states, "The appointment of General Sir Gwyn Jenkins as the new head of the Royal Navy has sparked controversy amid allegations of war crimes committed by the SAS in Afghanistan." This sentiment is echoed by many who are calling for a more thorough investigation into the allegations.
As reported by The Guardian, the Ministry of Defence has stated that they are fully committed to supporting the independent inquiry relating to Afghanistan. However, many are questioning whether enough is being done to address the allegations of war crimes committed by the SAS.
The controversy surrounding Jenkins’ appointment serves as a reminder of the need for greater transparency and accountability within the military. As the article from The Guardian highlights, the allegations of war crimes committed by the SAS in Afghanistan are a serious concern that must be addressed.
In conclusion, the appointment of General Sir Gwyn Jenkins as the new head of the Royal Navy has sparked controversy amid allegations of war crimes committed by the SAS in Afghanistan. As reported by The Guardian, Jenkins has been accused of failing to report evidence of war crimes committed by the SAS in Afghanistan, and his appointment has raised concerns about the accountability and transparency of the military’s actions.
