Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU, could be on her way up. According to multiple reports, she is in the running to become the future leader of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and might take over as early as October of this year.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s current secretary-general, is anticipated to serve out his term after nearly nine years in the position, which he has extended three times. Importantly, there is no formal election procedure for the next NATO Secretary General. The next head is chosen by consensus among the alliance’s 30 members.
Notwithstanding her qualifications as EU President, von der Leyen will face a difficult road if she is to succeed Stoltenberg. The Rishi Sunak government, according to British media, is anticipated to veto von der Leyen’s prospects, citing her dismal record as commander of Germany’s armed forces.
The EU chief has also come under fire for the scandals that have engulfed the bloc. She is being investigated for a multibillion-euro coronavirus vaccination contract negotiated at the height of the pandemic. Before the contract was signed, she allegedly exchanged text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
As a result, Sunak is promoting his Defense Secretary Ben Wallace as the top candidate for the job. If Wallace succeeds in unseating von der Leyen, he will be the first British secretary-general of NATO in more than 20 years. ()
Similarly, German media has projected Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as the second choice for the role, alongside Wallace.
Meanwhile, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland are both candidates for the position. The latter, on the other hand, may not go the distance because she failed to reach NATO’s aim of spending 2% of GDP on defense.
