The term of Jens Stoltenberg, the current Secretary General of NATO, ends at the end of September. However, Ben Wallace, considered the most likely candidate, said in an interview with The Economist that he would certainly not replace the outgoing leader this year.
In May, Wallace said he had always been sympathetic to the position of secretary-general, but added that he would also like to serve as the UK’s defense secretary.
Although US President Joe Biden publicly described the British Minister of Defense as “very suitable” for the position, and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also stated that his country does not support specific candidates, according to some sources.
The United States would still like to see Jens Stoltenberg head of NATO.
Wallace has confirmed this rumor himself.
Stoltenberg, who served as Secretary-General for nine years, commented on the subject:
I am responsible for every decision the association makes, except for one. This is about my future. That is up to the 31 Allies to decide.
Wallace is very popular in the alliance’s eastern flank, having played a leading role in arms shipments to Ukraine throughout.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has also been mentioned as a possible candidate. Which, if elected, would be the first woman to lead NATO, and was supported mainly by France and Germany.
Cover Photo: UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace (first row, third from right) with Ukrainian soldiers during a visit to a British Army military base where Ukrainian soldiers will be trained on Challenger 2 tanks in February 2023. Image credit: Ben Birchall-Pool/Getty Images
