The British newspaper “The Sun” reported yesterday (Saturday), quoting diplomatic sources, that the President of the European Union Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is making strenuous efforts to win the position of Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). She pointed out that a number of NATO member states confirmed that von der Leyen, a German national, would take over the NATO secretariat next October. It is expected that the term of the current Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, will expire next October. His tenure has been extended three times, and he has commanded the alliance for the past nine years. The Sun quoted British sources as saying that Britain will likely use the right to veto the appointment of von der Leyen, who previously held the defense portfolio in Germany. The sources attributed the direction of the British objection to the fact that von der Leyen did not achieve much during her work as Minister of Defense. And the German newspaper "Welt am Sonntag" reported yesterday that the most prominent candidates to succeed Stoltenberg are the current Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, and the current British Minister of Defense, Ben Wallace.
Okaz (London) @OKAZ_online
