Rosalind Evans
With a meeting between President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg scheduled for Monday, the question of who will succeed the latter is inescapably in the spotlight. Stoltenberg is due to leave his position later this year, and his successor has yet to be decided.
A senior US official reports that Biden has yet to choose a preferred candidate to succeed Stoltenberg. Typically, a European candidate fills the role, but the endorsement of the American president – the most powerful member of NATO – is requisite.
NATO leaders are anticipated to rally around a fresh face at the NATO summit in Lithuania in July, indicating that Biden will have to decide his preferred candidate shortly.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak presented his Defense Minister, Ben Wallace, as a potential candidate in a recent Oval Office discussion with Biden. Despite being described as “very qualified” by Biden, the president remains undecided.
A senior British official expressed that the incoming NATO secretary general should continue Stoltenberg’s modernization efforts and acknowledge the criticality of defence spending. This perspective could cast doubt on candidates from countries that have not fulfilled the NATO agreement to devote 2% of their GDP to defence spending, including Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Frederiksen’s recent visit to the White House led to speculation that she might be considered for the NATO leadership position. Despite the conjecture, Frederiksen refused to comment on the possibility and did not confirm if it was discussed during her meeting with Biden.
Nevertheless, speculation persists that Frederiksen could be a frontrunner for the position, mainly as NATO has never been led by a woman before, a factor that could influence Biden’s decision.
Other potential candidates for the NATO secretary general role include Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, say, diplomats.
Stoltenberg, whose term concludes in October, has clarified he will step down despite three previous term extensions. His next move is expected to be leading Norway’s central bank, though the duration of this vacancy remains uncertain if he doesn’t vacate his NATO position in the fall.
His leadership of NATO during the aftermath of Russia’s Ukraine invasion was significant, with the alliance consistently providing Kyiv with military and economic support.
NATO has also grown under Stoltenberg, with Finland and Sweden reconsidering their historical neutrality due to Russian aggression and moving to join the alliance. Although Finland finalized its NATO membership in April, Sweden’s entry faces opposition from Turkey, an issue hoped to be addressed before the July NATO summit.
The role of NATO’s leadership has gained significance amid Europe’s increasing geopolitical tensions and security concerns. As the alliance navigates a time of transformation and challenges, selecting the new secretary-general will undoubtedly be paramount. Whoever assumes the role will manage NATO’s ongoing modernization and address concerns regarding defence spending and alliance expansion, particularly in light of Russian aggression.
