In October, the top diplomatic post in NATO will be vacant. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said through his representative in February that he did not intend to further extend his term in the Atlantic alliance. He already did so last spring to avoid a change in NATO leadership due to Russia’s offensive in Ukraine. But who will be the Alliance’s 14th secretary general? More precisely: which one? Because the first woman in this office will be very welcome. Nearly half of NATO’s 30 ambassadors have already quietly nominated one candidate or another, the article notes. german wave.

He or she must forge an alliance, balance interests, promote consensus among the 30 members, whether the threat to political cohesion comes from a fickle Donald Trump or an aggressive Vladimir Putin. Requires diplomatic skills and loyalty to the alliance. The Secretary General does not have the right to make political decisions. The future secretary had to be the head of state or government. Knowledge of English is a must. Preferably French.

The candidate must have good relations with Washington. Ultimately, the US, as the most important member, matters even if the general secretary is traditionally European, according to Deutsche Welle. All 30 governments must agree on a new Secretary General. Therefore, his regional interests, origins and political background should not create problems. The military weight and diplomatic importance of the country of origin should also not be an issue. For example, it would be unthinkable at this point in time for a Turk to take over, given the difficulties that authoritarian President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is creating with Sweden’s accession.. Conversely, it is hard to imagine Turkey supporting a Finnish candidate.

How is the nomination process going?

From a process point of view, nothing is predetermined. There is no official selection committee. Diplomats negotiate in secret on behalf of their governments until a consensus is reached. There is no official vote. The heads of state and government of the alliance announce the new name at the summit. The next NATO summit will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania on 11 July.

Who are the candidates?

A NATO diplomat, who asked not to be named, believes the choice of the Baltic woman is likely due to the current threat from Russia. It would be possible to consider the candidacy of the current Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaya Kalas, or the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Simonyte. A woman from one of the states of the eastern wing, of course, would also receive the support of Poland, whose military importance in NATO is growing.

Zuzana Kaputova, President of Slovakia, is also mentioned. The country has a direct border with Ukraine, which was attacked. Her candidacy can be regarded as an act of solidarity. But NATO’s southeast wing also has a candidate: Klaus Iohannis, president of Romania, which is strategically important to NATO because of its position on the Black Sea. In the south, Italy has reportedly nominated Mario Draghi, a former prime minister, as the new head of NATO simply to bolster southern countries’ claim to the post. It is said that the UK also has ambitions, as post-Brexit Britons want to become more visible internationally again. The candidate could be former Prime Minister Theresa May.

Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is considered an outsider. She is the granddaughter of Ukrainian immigrants. In Canada, her paternity has been hotly debated as Russian propaganda has highlighted Grandpa Freeland’s alleged ties to the Nazis during World War II. But her main problem is that she is not European.

Possibility of extension?

The last possibility would be to extend Jens Stoltenberg’s contract until April 2024. NATO will then turn 75, which will be celebrated with a summit in Washington. It is possible, especially since the post of head of the Central Bank, which Stoltenberg originally wanted in Norway, is now filled.