[Source/Observer Network, Chen Sijia] According to a May 10 report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the UK Ministry of Defense confirmed on the same day that Benjamin John Key (Benjamin John Key), First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, was dismissed due to "improper conduct" and is under investigation. A source disclosed that Key allegedly had an affair with a female subordinate.

The UK Ministry of Defense did not disclose any details about the investigation or how long it would last, only stating that "it is inappropriate to comment further at this time." A Ministry of Defense source said that the department will only comment "when appropriate." Until a successor for Key is determined, Second Sea Lord Martin Connell will take over the Royal Navy.

Key, aged 59, has served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff since 2021 and is the highest-ranking officer in the Royal Navy. He was originally scheduled to retire this summer, which means that the Royal Navy had already begun looking for his successor before he was dismissed.

According to The Daily Mail, Key is accused of having an affair with a female officer. Under UK military regulations, if a senior officer engages in improper relations with subordinates under their command, it will be considered potential abuse of power and a violation of military conduct standards, resulting in dismissal and investigation.

This is the first time in the 500-year history of the Royal Navy that a First Sea Lord has faced an investigation into "improper conduct." Investigators will examine Key's mobile phone, his computer at the Ministry of Defense, and email accounts.

The related allegations were made by a serving officer. The Daily Telegraph reported that this whistleblower accused the Royal Navy of having a pervasive "culture of sexual assault and harassment."

UK First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Benjamin Key, AFP

Several sources within the Royal Navy told The Daily Mail that Key indeed faces accusations of having an affair with a subordinate, but some suspect that this controversy may have been pushed by political opponents. One source said, "I think he was targeted so that he would disappear completely. He kept questioning the delays in new warships, recruitment funding, and the shortage of frigates, but was told to remain silent. Now he can no longer speak out."

Another source said that Key believed that as part of the ongoing Strategic Defense Review, the Royal Navy must "act within its means," meaning reducing projects established by former Chief of the Naval Staff and current Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin. This source pointed out that Key proposed taking "decisive action" to reverse the situation, but there has always been division within the military.

However, The Financial Times cited other informed individuals saying that Key's dismissal has nothing to do with the UK government's Strategic Defense Review. These sources revealed that the Ministry of Defense has already begun reviewing his successor and may announce it in the coming weeks.

UK Prime Minister Starmer is expected to deliver a defense speech later this week. He has cut the international aid budget to increase defense spending. Starting from 2027, the proportion of UK defense spending to GDP will increase from 2.3% to 2.5%. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rees announced in March that an additional £2.2 billion would be allocated for defense in the current fiscal year.

The Guardian pointed out that the Royal Navy has long had problems of harassing subordinates and engaging in improper relationships. Last October, the Royal Navy released a report stating that they had conducted 28 investigations into issues such as sexual harassment and improper relationships over the past two years, leading to the dismissal of 18 people, demotion of four, and disciplinary actions against six.

In response to the navy's investigation results, Key publicly apologized last October. At that time, he stated that the navy was taking measures to address these issues, "certain behaviors that were once normalized in the past should never be considered acceptable, and they should not exist now. We must build a culture that does not tolerate such behaviors."

This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reproduced without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/75030826454331938/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. Please express your opinions by clicking the "Agree/Disagree" buttons below.