Lobbyists are looking for an answer to this question: Who will be the new NATO Secretary General?

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s term expires in October 2023. So, at a time when Russia-NATO tensions are at an all-time high, there is much talk about who will take on such a political task. delicate, high-profile and important.

To date, many names from many countries at the level of president, prime minister and minister have been spoken for this task. On this occasion, the fact that the new general secretary is a woman came to the fore, entrusting the management of the alliance to a woman for the first time in her history.

Candidates spoken to for the job included Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, European Union (EU) Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova, former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic , Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and British former Prime Minister Theresa May. .

FREDERIKSEN’S NAME REMEMBERED

Recently, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been added to the list of candidates. Frederiksen’s visit to Washington on June 6 to meet US President Joe Biden fueled rumors about her posting as NATO Secretary General.

Frederiksen, 45, who became his country’s youngest prime minister in 2019, is currently one of the most serious candidates, although he says he is not running for the job. Frederiksen draws attention to his government’s growing support for Ukraine and harsh rhetoric against Russia.

However, the fact that the Danish Prime Minister does not have a high profile in the international community is shown as a handicap.

In addition, in Denmark, which has been on the agenda with the burning of the Holy Quran in recent years, it is estimated that Turkey may approach Frederiksen’s candidacy with suspicion, since the government is not in an attitude to prevent these events.

THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IS INCREASING

Last year there was much talk about the addition of a woman to the highest position in NATO. It was claimed that for the first time in the alliance’s history, many member states warmly welcomed the assignment of a woman. However, the candidate seems to have disappeared from the agenda in recent months.

For this reason, the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the British Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, are also shown as possible candidates.

Also, names like Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte are on the agenda for the post of NATO Secretary General.

STOLTENBERG CAN EXPAND

The current secretary general of the 31-member alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, has held the position since October 1, 2014. The mandate of former Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg has been extended three times before. The latest extension will end on September 30, 2023. But the prospect of a further extension of the Norwegian leader’s term is growing.

It is claimed that most NATO countries are willing to extend, and Stoltenberg wants to stay in office at a time when tensions with Russia are running high.

Norway’s Stoltenberg is said not to want to finish the job without seeing Sweden’s NATO entry process after Finland.

Stoltenberg, just before the start of Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022, announced that he would become the head of his country’s Central Bank. Shortly after the start of the war, Stoltenberg’s term was extended.

The Central Bank of Norway manages the Norwegian Wealth Fund, the largest fund in the world. The size of the fund exceeds $1.4 trillion.

ALL COUNTRIES MUST APPROVE

NATO Secretary General, the highest civilian position in the 31-member alliance. Traditionally, a head of state or government of a European country is appointed to this position.

All NATO countries decide who will be the Secretary General, who has a 4-year term. The approval of all countries is required for the candidate to take office.

So far the UK has sent 3, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy twice each, the NATO Secretary General. A person from Germany, Spain, Denmark, and Norway became Secretary General.

The NATO Secretary General has three main functions in the alliance. One of them is to chair all the committees and carry out the negotiations within the alliance, facilitate the decision-making processes and ensure the implementation of the decisions.

Others serve as the main spokesperson for the alliance and head the agency’s international staff. (AA)