The British Defense Secretary expresses interest in Stoltenberg’s successor

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British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace (53) is interested in succeeding NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (64). “I’ve always said this is a good job. It’s a job I’d like,” Wallace told the German press agency in Berlin. “Well, NATO’s secretary general would be a great job, and the NATO is extremely important to the security of all of us. I am happy to do my part to ensure that you can lie safely in bed at night.”

However, he made it clear that his current job as Defense Secretary in the British government is also satisfactory. He is like his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, whom he met in Berlin and also works at a time of reform and investment. “These departments have been saving for 30 years and now it’s the other way around,” Wallace said.

Stoltenberg’s term was last extended due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, but it expires at the end of September. In February, he rejected reports of a possible further extension of his term in office. The Norwegian has led the alliance since the end of 2014.

Von der Leyen a candidate?

The member states of the alliance usually agree behind the scenes on who will lead the organisation. An American is usually the military commander-in-chief, while the secretary-general comes from the ranks of the other, mostly European, member states.

The British newspaper “The Sun” had reported that former German Defense Minister and current President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (64) was a candidate. Von der Leyen had dismissed reports of her alleged planned move to the top of the Western Defense Alliance. (SDA)

Source: Blick