A wartime NATO struggles to replace its chief – POLITICO

Despite rumours that Ursula von der Leyen could lead NATO, officials inside the organisation and the European Commission doubt such a switch is likely. While the former German defence minister has experience working with NATO leaders, the fact that she would leave her role as European Commission President early, and Germany’s track record on defence spending, pose obstacles to her candidacy. Further names in the mix include Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, though insiders have played down talk that any of these leaders are considering the role. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s mandate ends in September, and though some NATO countries are favourable towards him staying on, others warn that doing so would turn NATO into a “consolation prize” among European politics.

According to Politico sources, more talks are likely in the coming months, where likely candidates will be mentioned to gauge interest. The successful candidate for the NATO job will be someone who can back Ukraine but is considered moderate in their hawkishness — a noticeable shift from previous practices. Speculation over NATO leadership appointments underscores how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has increased the alliance’s sensitivity politically and profile-wise. The issue of defence spending has also become more important as the role includes overseeing the military budgets and commitments of 30 member states. The lack of a clear field of candidates to replace Stoltenberg also reflects heightened caution among NATO members over who will represent them.

Though NATO is generally in favour of appointing a European leader who has the backing of the US, the fact that there are a short list of suitable candidates at present means discussions of likely candidates will be ongoing over the coming months. The chosen leader will have significant geopolitical impact as NATO reassesses its role in a global environment increasingly dominated by competition between nations.



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