According to the newspaper Welt am Sonntag, he is very tough on Russia.
Olaf Schulz The advisor prevented this Ursula von der Lenbuhl Becoming Secretary General of NATO, wrote A The world on Sunday. The decision was reportedly made due to von der Leyen's political background and his anti-Russian stance.
Until now, von der Leyen was considered the most likely candidate for the position of NATO leader, and was nominated last year. Anthony Blinken As suggested by the US Secretary of State Joe Biden For the president.
However, Chancellor Schulz torpedoed the nomination, citing his ties to Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU). According to Welt am Sonntag sources, Schulz considered the role of general secretary too important to hand over to a member of the opposition CDU. There were also concerns about von der Leyen's hard-line approach to Russia. According to Schulz, this could hamper long-term diplomatic efforts.
Bloomberg also reported that Türkiye supports it conditionally Mark Ruti The Dutch Prime Minister takes over as NATO Secretary General, signaling ongoing negotiations between member states to ensure consensus on leadership appointments.
Other potential candidates, incl Mette Frederiksen Danish Prime Minister W Kaja Kala The Estonian Prime Minister was also evaluated, but due to diplomatic relations and their radical stance towards Russia, they were included in the circle considered most likely.
Jens Stoltenberg The term of the current NATO Secretary General expires in October 2024, and the selection of his successor has become an urgent matter, requiring unanimous approval of all NATO members. With Mark Rutte becoming the front-runner, discussions and negotiations are expected to become more intense in the coming months, with a decision expected by June.
