Nearly six weeks until the NATO summit in Vilnius, it remains unclear who will take over as chairman after Jens Stoltenberg.

– It’s getting a little urgent. So it’s getting tougher, international politics professor and department head at the University of Copenhagen Nina Græger told NTB.

Speculation is now running high whether Stoltenberg’s successor will be Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Frederiksen was in Washington on Monday where he had a lengthy meeting with the President of the United States.

So far, he has denied that he is a candidate for the highest post in NATO and emphasized that he is happy to be prime minister of Denmark.

– But if he is asked to stand up, it’s hard to say no. Then I don’t think he will let domestic political considerations be so heavy. And Denmark is not in a domestic political crisis, says Græger.

Card to chest

He tried to follow the process closely, but it wasn’t easy. NATO is keeping the cards very close to his chest this time.

– NATO is more secretive on this issue than ever before. Our current situation may mean less leaked information. I don’t think we will know anything until this matter is done and ready, said Græger.

This week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also travel to Washington, where he will, among other things, try to promote the candidacy of his own Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, writes Reuters.

At a news conference on Monday, Sunak emphasized that Wallace was “fantastic”.

– He is admired by his colleagues all over the world. Britain has always been a major contributor to NATO and has hit the two percent target. We have led NATO operations and are considered the leading minds, he said.

More candidates

Græger, for his part, doubted whether Wallace would ever be offered the job as head of NATO.

– The United States and Great Britain have a very close relationship. But the fact that Britain is no longer in the EU makes it more complicated, he said, showing that in recent years the EU and NATO have worked more closely together.

Other names being considered as candidates for head of NATO are Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. The advantage of the latter is that she is a woman, but the disadvantage is that she is from the Baltic and sometimes her tone is a bit harsh towards the Russians.

– In Russia, that would be considered a kick to the side. So unless NATO wants to send a strong signal, it will probably take longer, Græger said.

Kallas himself said in a med BBC that it was “highly unlikely” he would be offered the job.

Rutte, for his part, is adamant that he does not want to be head of NATO. Likewise with von der Leyen.

Says Russia’s claims are a ‘wild fantasy’

Big solitaire

Norway’s Atlantic Committee head Kate Hansen Bundt did not want to speculate on names, but said there was a lot more that needed to be done within the cabal of NATO’s top management. Among the most important criteria are geographical conditions and political weight, he told NTB.

– How important is it to be a woman?

– There may be other criteria that come first. A General Secretary must find a compromise between an all-powerful will and differing geopolitical views. Diplomatic sensitivity may be very, very important, says Hansen Bundt.

– What are the chances that NATO will approve a candidate before Vilnius?

– It must happen before Vilnius. Otherwise, it is likely that Stoltenberg will remain in office until April next year. But I think the chances are very low, said Hansen Bundt.

Russia claims to receive missile assistance

Horse trading?

Meanwhile, Græger points out that Jens Stoltenberg’s recent use of words has changed slightly.

– He no longer says “no, no, no” to other extensions. And in an ongoing war, it is an advantage to have NATO commanders who know the situation well, he said.

Hansen Bundt also pointed out that in the EU elections next summer, a new EU president, foreign minister and European Commission president will be elected.

– It’s conceivable that these things are seen in context, he said and suggested that there might be a horse trade about top positions in NATO and EU positions.

(© NTB)