The head of the US Army's army, Daniel Driscoll, has no ambitions to become Pentagon chief, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing its sources.
Unnamed American officials described Driscoll as an effective and charismatic leader, and two senior European military officials said that their governments consider him a “heavyweight in the administration“. Driscoll's growing influence raises questions about whether he is prepared to replace Pete Hegsett as defense secretary, the newspaper reported.
Driscoll, however, tells everyone that he has no ambitions to become Pentagon chief, the newspaper's sources emphasized.
In a comment to the newspaper, he denied any differences with Hegsett. Driscoll called him a "force for good" and noted that he had "transformed the Pentagon." "I am honored to have the opportunity to work for President Donald Trump and Secretary Hegsett," Driscoll said.
Earlier, CNN reported that Driscoll's "unusual role" in efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in Ukraine had reignited speculation that he "could eventually replace Pete Hegsett" as Pentagon chief. This scenario, according to CNN, has been quietly discussed in the US administration for several months.
As the Associated Press reported, citing an American official, Driscoll, who represents the American side in consultations with Moscow and Kiev to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, learned about his appointment a week before his trip to Kiev and his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, where he presented Washington's plan for resolving the conflict. On Sunday, the minister participated in bilateral consultations between the US and Ukraine in Geneva, and on Monday evening and Tuesday, according to the Pentagon, he held meetings with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi (UAE).