In September 2023, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will step down, but his successor has not been determined. The United States proposed that Stoltenberg extend his term for one year in order to maintain stability and control, but his "decision to go" is still a mystery, and the next "head of NATO" is still a mystery. France, Germany, and Britain began to take sides, and the United States"Built-in"The plan may end the story.
The U.S. nomination of von der Leyen as NATO secretary general was firmly opposed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Scholz believes that von der Leyen's attitude on Russia is too tough and may bring hidden dangers to Europe. Germany's hard-line attitude is unquestionable, and the United States' move to "make an internal decision" has reached a deadlock. In addition, von der Leyen returned to Germany from Belgium and has a wealth of political experience, having served as Minister of Defense, which meets French requirements.
Expanding: Scholz's firm stance not only reflects Germany's autonomy and independence in European affairs, but also shows Germany's caution and trade-offs on the Russian issue. Von der Leyen's political background and leadership experience make her a high-profile candidate, while also underscoring the fierceness of competition among European countries in the NATO leadership election. Germany's resolute attitude has added a new layer of uncertainty to the undecided choice of NATO's leader.
France showed "silence" about the US nomination of von der Leyen, neither for nor against. As early as last year, Macron said that the next secretary-general should be a member of the European Union to balance the forces within NATO. Von der Leyen's background is recognized by France, which may be weighing the contradictions between the United States and Europe by maintaining neutrality.
Expanding: France's silence may hint at its delicate stance on NATO affairs, both to safeguard Europe's interests as a whole and to balance U.S. influence in NATO. Macron's statement has led Europe's attention to the choice of NATO leader, and also highlighted the complexity and importance of the NATO leadership battle. How to find a balance between the interests of the United States and Europe may be the trade-off for France.
After Brexit, Britain's influence in Europe weakened, and in order to strengthen its presence, the British were nominated to be NATO secretary general. The UK's role in NATO is in the spotlight, and if it can take the lead, it will increase its voice in Europe. Britain's move also pushed the election of NATO's head to a new turning point.
Expanding: The UK's nomination means that the battle for NATO's leadership is intensifying, with fierce competition between various forces. Britain's move could reshape NATO's internal landscape, triggering more countries to intervene in the elections and stirring up more controversy and disagreement. If Britain fails to win the position of NATO Secretary-General, its position in Europe may be further damaged, and the NATO landscape will change as a result.
The question of who will be in charge of NATO has touched the veins of US-European relations, and various countries have different opinions and disputes. Germany is firmly opposed to von der Leyen, France is on the sidelines, and Britain is nominating its own candidate. The United States' "internal decision" plan may be on the verge of failure, and the divergent positions of European countries in the election of NATO's head may demonstrate the fierceness and complexity of the power game within NATO. NATO's future path is full of challenges and uncertainties, and how the United States will deal with the differences among European countries and who will ultimately take the helm of NATO remains a mystery.