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A year ago, Jens Stoltenberg was preparing to begin winding down his term as NATO’s secretary-general and return to Norway to become the governor of its central bank, occupying himself with setting interest rates and managing the energy-rich nation’s massive wealth. He was the “best” man for the job, Norway’s finance minister said in early February last year.
Just a few weeks later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Stoltenberg quickly got an extension in his current job and a legacy as the face of Europe’s coordinated response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression.
That one-year extension, however, will lapse this fall, and Brussels is already abuzz with speculation over his replacement. In the 30-member alliance, there are nearly half as many names making the rounds.
“It is the least transparent election of all elections,” a European diplomat told Foreign Policy in Brussels. The selection “happens through consultations between powerful nations.” NATO’s decisions are based on consensus, but the top four economies—the United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—exercise inordinate influence, even if they don’t always claim the coveted position for themselves.
The United States usually refrains from the race for NATO’s political leadership because it had traditionally held one of the top military posts in the alliance—the supreme commander of Europe—is traditionally a U.S. general. But who it backs carries weight in the final decision. Germany and France are unlikely to field their candidates this year since both have tried to diplomatically resolve the Ukraine conflict and met with Putin shortly before the start of the war. They have since tried to play a balancing act even while sending humanitarian and defense aid to Ukraine. Ian Lesser, vice president of the German Marshall Fund, said he didn’t think Germany would want the position since its stance on Ukraine is “already controversial.”
That leaves, most prominently, the United Kingdom, which wishes to exert power in post-Brexit Europe; the Scandinavians, who get along with everyone but have had their turn with Stoltenberg and his immediate predecessor; and Italy and the Eastern European nations that once again are reminding their allies of their geographical significance.
Some argue a leader from a Baltic country would send a clear signal to Putin that NATO would rally behind the region with all its might if he aimed Russian missiles in that direction, but there is equal concern that they might be too hawkish to make peace with him whenever the conflict subsides. Some NATO observers have suggested geographical distance could be a diplomatic asset and point toward faraway Canada as a potential candidate. Others say the leader should be from the European Union, which has 21 members of NATO’s 30. Italy, a frontline border state on the Mediterranean and often the first point of entry for immigrants from poorer nations, is seen as a particularly legitimate contender.
Among the most-talked-about names are Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, who, when recently asked about his aspirations, has suggested he might soon wish to leave politics altogether; Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minister of Canada, who, according to Foreign Policy‘s sources (and a New York Times report), is backed by Washington; and Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s 45-year-old prime minister.
Then there’s a slate of current and former female leaders. Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, and former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic have all been reported as possible candidates in the media, but according to three NATO observers that FP spoke to, their names are mentioned far less often in corridors of power. Freeland and Kallas are both dynamic women in top positions in their countries. NATO secretaries-general have traditionally been heads of government or state, but that is not an established rule, and many believe a deputy prime minister or foreign minister would also be acceptable.
Freeland is the granddaughter of Ukrainian immigrants to Canada. In 2015, after Crimea’s annexation, she wrote an essay called “My Ukraine” and mentioned how her maternal grandparents “saw themselves as political exiles with a responsibility to keep alive the idea of an independent Ukraine.” But the Canadian press reported that her grandfather was involved with the Ukrainian nationalist movement and edited Krakivski Visti, which has been described as a Nazi propaganda daily that was highly antisemitic. This association could play into the hands of the Kremlin, which has said it is trying to rid Ukraine of nationalist and Nazi elements. “American officials have publicly said—and even [former German Chancellor] Angela Merkel has publicly said—that there were efforts on the Russian side to destabilize Western democracies, and I think it shouldn’t come as a surprise if these same efforts were used against Canada,” Freeland said when asked about her grandfather’s association with the Nazis. She was supported by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who expelled four Russian diplomats for trying to discredit her and tarnish her public image. Trudeau described the diplomats as “Russian propagandists” who were “sharing scurrilous stories about her.”
Several NATO watchers told FP that while Freeland was a good choice, the fact that Canada is not in Europe could be a source of friction at a time when cohesion is at a premium. Kallas is a worthy challenger to Freeland for the position not only because she is a European but also because Estonia, unlike Canada, spends at least 2 percent of its GDP on defense, which is a stated goal of the member nations. However, Kallas is seen as staunchly anti-Putin and has advocated against negotiating with him.
“Kallas is an outspoken leader, which could lead to discomfort in Western European nations. France comes to mind. They may have reservations with Kallas. What if [French President Emmanuel] Macron is backchanneling with Putin and Kallas comes out and rejects that?” said Max Bergmann, director of the Europe program and the Stuart Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “The French have no qualms in raising their objections. Kallas would have to convince [them that] she gets the broader security landscape.”
Meanwhile, inside Estonia the focus seems to be on domestic elections. It would be a matter of pride for any of the Baltic nations to have one of their own leading NATO, but at least in Brussels the sense is that few find that realistic. Baltic, Eastern, and Central European nations have long been in line, said a European diplomat, but that doesn’t mean they will get the job this time. Kersti Kaljulaid, former president of Estonia, was in the running for the job before Stoltenberg was granted an extension, but it’s still unclear whether her ambitions might be fulfilled this year.
While Freeland and Kallas are seen as too implacably opposed to Putin for the comfort of some of the more powerful European nations, Grabar-Kitarovic may be dismissed for her perceived friendliness, having exchanged soccer jerseys with him when she traveled to watch the World Cup in 2018. Moreover, the comments of the current Croatian leadership could be taken against her. Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has opposed sending lethal weapons to Ukraine and said defense aid “prolongs the war.”
British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace is another name that gets mentioned, as is former British Prime Minister Theresa May’s. Britain may find it hard, however, to convince Europeans, many of whom still feel jilted by its decision to leave the European Union. But others, especially NATO members in Russia’s neighborhood, find the U.K.’s military strength a huge advantage. “Britain has a very strong military. We love them for that. We are just sad they left the EU,” said a diplomat from a Central European nation.
Then there is Mario Draghi, an Italian economist, banker, and former prime minister, and Federica Mogherini, a former EU foreign-policy chief and Italian minister. “The issue is more, what are the Europeans and U.S. looking for, and I think part of the job is just being a pure diplomat. Corralling 30 or so countries does require familiarity with defense topics. Draghi may check the first but not the second. And an Italian might raise concerns among Eastern nations,” Bergmann said.
Lesser said that European unity and coordination with the United States is of paramount importance to defeating Putin and his wider ambitions. “The concern is an erosion of political cohesion,” he said. “It all tends to point in the direction of larger, long-standing members with a bit of geographic distance from the center of security risks, like the Netherlands, Canada, Italy—these are countries that would fit the bill.”
But Lesser said he would still bet on Stoltenberg. “One comes with a different name every week from NATO, but the gossip in NATO—after all, it’s about their boss—is around Stoltenberg. I don’t think it’s a given that the secretary-general will depart when his term ends. There is also credible talk his tenure might be extended.” Perhaps speaking in favor of that scenario is the fact that the Norwegian central bank job is no longer available for Stoltenberg.
On a trip to Washington this week, Stoltenberg applauded U.S. leadership and said, “Unwavering American leadership and bipartisan support have ensured that NATO allies are united like never before.” That unity may not last, however, when it comes to choosing his successor.
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US/NATO Nazi leaders
#nato#us#amerikkka#nazileaders#nasa#eu#werner von braun#walter hallstein#adolf heusinger#kurt waldheim#nato chief of staff#secretary general#eu commission#nazism#Nazi Ukraine#ukraine propaganda#ukraine nazi#yourculturesucks
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#jens stoltenberg#nato secretary general#nato must support ukraine#ukraine resistance#ukraine war#stop russian invasion#putin war criminal#help ukraine#putin war ukraine russia
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EXPLOSIONS ROCK KYIV AFTER UN CHIEF MEETING, GUTERRES SAFE
The UN Secretary-General has been visiting the sites of atrocities near Kyiv on Thursday, before heading to the capital for talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the afternoon, as UN humanitarian teams plan an evacuation of civilians from Mariupol in coordination with the Red Cross.Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that any outside interference in the conflict in Ukraine would be met with…
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#Bulgaria#EU#Germany#NATO#Poland#Russia-Ukraine War#Russian Invasion#Spain#UK#Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky#UN#United Nations Secretary General António Guterres#Vladimir Putin#World
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Languages: Polski
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his supporters are facing a number of obstacles in his bid to become NATO’s next secretary general, which could delay the decision by weeks.
Rutte is a top contender to take over from incumbent NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. NATO diplomats were adamant the next boss’s name would be selected during the first week of April, in time for the alliance’s foreign ministers meeting and the 75th-anniversary celebration.
However, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis’s surprise candidacy for the same position has thrown cold water on what many had seen as a done deal for Rutte.
At this stage, Rutte has to gain the confidence of four governments: Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Turkey.
With foreign ministers discussing the matter during their meeting in Brussels, it is unclear whether the matter will be settled by the last ministerial in Prague (30-31 May) before the leaders’ summit in Washington (9-11 July).
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Poor Mark. He'd all but packed his bags. Twat!
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NATO Gains Strength, Sweden Officially Becomes 32nd Member
WIO EN – NATO welcomed a new Sweden officially becomes 32nd member at NATO headquarters in Washington D.C. on March 7, 2024. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson presented the instrument of accession ratification to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, marking a new chapter in Sweden’s security history and strengthening the Western military alliance.
“This is a historic day for Sweden,”…
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Three American Troops were Killed on Sunday in a Drone Attack in Northeast Jordan 🇯🇴 near Syrian 🇸🇾 Border. Bing.Com/Maps, Planet Labs PBC Via AP, USA TODAY
Maps Show Drone Strike Against War Criminal US Forces in Jordan was Latest in More Than 150 Attacks
— George Petras | Janet Loehrke | Ramon Padilla | USA Today | January 30, 2024
A drone attack by Iran-backed militants that killed three U.S. troops and wounded at least 34 others at at U.S. base in Jordan Sunday is a major escalation in Middle East hostilities that have increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
A mix-up at the base, in which the hostile drone was mistaken for a U.S. drone in flight, may have allowed it to get through defense systems and detonate, two officials told USA TODAY.
The attack was the third in six months on the base, known as Tower 22, defense officials said. The U.S. will respond to the attacks, President Joe Biden said Sunday.
Biden says he's made a decision on how to respond to the attack.
American forces in Jordan and Syria have been attacked more than 150 times since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, USA TODAY reported. Militants have used rockets and drones in most of the attacks.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of militias supported by Iran, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Iran itself has denied being involved.
Where Have US Forces Been Attacked?
Despite Iran's claim, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Iran was behind the attack in Jordan and other attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants on ships in the region.
Sunday's fatal attack took place at Tower 22, a military base located inside a demilitarized zone in northeastern Jordan near the borders with Syria and Iraq.
The base is reported to be an American logistics outpost and houses about 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel. It's part of a supply network for the U.S. garrison of al-Tanf about 12 miles away across the border in Syria.
It's not yet known what type of drone was used in the attack.
Tower 22 is operated by War Criminal US Troops as part of an “International Coalition of Terrorists” against the Islamic State (IS) Jihadist Group, near Jordan's border with Iraq and Syria in the northeastern Rwaished District. A drone attack on January 28, 2024 on the frontier base in Jordan's northeast, killed three US troops. The image above captured on October 12, 2023 shows the base prior to the attack. SOURCE Image By Planet; Map Via © Mapcreator.io | OSM.org | © DLR | © Airbus Defense and Space | © Copernicus
How Many US Troops are in the Middle East?
More than 40,000 American troops are deployed at multiple Middle Eastern locations, USA TODAY has reported.
— CONTRIBUTING Tom Vanden Brook, Josh Meyer, John Bacon and Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY. SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Associated Press; International Crisis Group
#Attacks#US 🇺🇸 War Criminal Forces#Jordan 🇯🇴#Syria 🇸🇾#Iraq 🇮🇶#Iran 🇮🇷#Middle East#Qatar 🇶🇦#Bahrain 🇧🇭#Kuwait 🇰🇼#George Petras | Janet Loehrke | Ramon Padilla | USA Today#North Atlantic Terrorist Organization (NATO)#North Atlantic Terrorist Organization (NATO) | Secretary General | War Criminal & Terrorist Jens Stoltenberg
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Візит в Україну Міністра оборони США та Верховного головнокомандувача союзних військ НАТО в Європі
Головнокомандувач Збройних Сил України генерал Валерій Залужний:
“Важливий візит в Україну Міністра оборони США Ллойда Остіна та Верховного головнокомандувача Обʼєднаних Збройних Сил НАТО в Європі, командувача Збройних Сил США в Європі генерала Крістофера Каволі.
Під головуванням Міністра оборони України Рустема Умєрова, разом із начальником Генерального штабу Сергієм Шапталою, взяли участь у…
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#Armed Forces of Ukraine#Commander-in-Chief#Department of Defense#DOD#Верховний головнокомандувач Об&039;єднаних збройних сил НАТО в Європі#Візит#Генерал#Голова Європейського командування Збройних Сил США#ЗСУ#Збройні Сили України#Російське вторгнення в Україну#Російсько-українська війна#General#NATO#North Atlantic Treaty Organization#Russo-Ukrainian War#Secretary of Defense#USA#Visit
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Leaders Will Come Together To Bring Kyiv Into Alliance #nato #news #eur...
#youtube#Leaders Will Come Together To Bring Kyiv Into Alliance. nato news europe ukraine france belarus poland germany NATO Secretary-General Jens
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NATO Crave Big Defense Spending, Vows Support for Ukraine
NATO Crave Big Defense Spending, Vows Support for Ukraine
NATO will review a significant increase in defense spending and steps to continue its support for Ukraine at the next meeting to be held in Vilnius on July 11-12, 2023, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.
“I am pleased to announce that the next meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government will take place in Vilnius on 11-12 July 2023,” he said.
According to Stoltenberg,…
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NATO Secretary General gave a forecast on the timing of the war in Ukraine
NATO Secretary General gave a forecast on the timing of the war in Ukraine
Jens Stoltenberg gave a disappointing forecast
Jens Stoltenberg believes that the war could drag on for years / Photo: Collage: Today
The war between Russia and Ukraine “could drag on for years.” It is impossible to weaken support for Kyiv, despite the fact that this may be a protracted process. Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, stated this in an interview with…
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NATO HINTS AT PERMANENT BASES NEAR RUSSIA DUE TO 'UNPREDICTABLE' KREMLIN
NATO HINTS AT PERMANENT BASES NEAR RUSSIA DUE TO ‘UNPREDICTABLE’ KREMLIN
NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said he expects that permanent NATO military bases will be implemented in Eastern Europe in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Speaking during the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, hosted by the Alliance for Democracies, Geoană suggested the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act is now “void” after the Kremlin began with their invasion of Ukraine and the…
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#FINLAND#General Mircea#Madrid#NATO#NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea#Russia#Russia&039;s invasion of Ukraine#Sweden
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Erdogan says Ankara not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO
New Post has been published on https://www.timesofocean.com/erdogan-says-ankara-not-supportive-of-finland-sweden-joining-nato/
Erdogan says Ankara not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO
Ankara (The Times Groupe)- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that NATO-member Turkey could not support plans by Sweden and Finland to join the pact as the Nordic countries were “home to many terrorist organizations”.
Even though Turkey has officially supported NATO expansion since it joined the U.S.-led alliance 70 years ago, its opposition could pose a problem for Sweden and Finland given that new members must be agreed to unanimously.
Throughout its history, Turkey has repeatedly criticized Sweden and other Western European countries for their handling of groups deemed terrorist by Ankara, including the Kurdish militant groups PKK and YPG, and followers of U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey says the Gulenists attempted a coup in 2016. Gulen and his supporters deny the allegations.
By applying for NATO membership, Finland and Sweden are expected to expand the Western military alliance that Putin aimed to prevent with his invasion of Ukraine.
Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul that he was following developments surrounding Finland and Sweden, but he did not hold positive views on the issue. He said that Greece’s membership in NATO had been a mistake in the past.
“We do not want to repeat similar mistakes as a country, nor are Scandinavian countries guesthouses for terrorist groups,” Erdogan said without elaborating.
“Some of them are even in parliaments in some countries. We cannot support them,” he said.
As a response to Turkish resistance, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto called for patience and a step-by-step approach. In addition, he said he would meet his Turkish counterpart on Saturday in Berlin.
Meanwhile, Sweden remains confident it will be able to secure unanimous approval for any NATO application it submits.
Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had stated that the Finns would be “warmly welcomed” and promised a “smooth and swift” accession process.
Aaron Stein, director of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, tweeted on Twitter about the Turkish opposition: “Turkish national security elites view Finland and Sweden as semi-hostile, given the presence of PKK and Gulenists. It’s gonna take a lot of arm twisting to get approval.”
NATO states that it is open to any country that is capable of furthering the principles of the North Atlantic Treaty and contributing to North Atlantic security”.
In addition to attending many NATO meetings, receiving regular updates on the situation in Ukraine and participating in regular military drills, Finland and Sweden already have interoperable military equipment with NATO allies.
However, they cannot take advantage of NATO’s collective defence clause – that an attack on one ally is an attack on all – until they join.
On Thursday, Moscow called Finland’s announcement hostile and threatened retaliation, including unspecified “military-technical” measures.
Although Turkey has criticized Russia’s invasion, sent armed drones to Ukraine, and tried to facilitate peace talks between the sides, it has not backed Western sanctions against Moscow, and seeks to maintain close economic, energy, and tourism ties with Russia.
#Aaron Stein#Ankara#director of the Foreign Policy Research Institute#Finland#Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto#Gulenists#military-technical measures#nato secretary general jens stoltenberg#NATO-member Turkey#PKK#Sweden#The Times Groupe#Times#Times Of Ocean#Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan#U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen#Unravel News#YPG#Politics
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AP News: Explosions rock Kyiv again as Russians rain fire on Ukraine
#russo ukraine war#russo ukrainian war#ukrainian genocide#ukrainian war#kyiv#un secretary general#news#un security council#united nations#nato
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Former Australian Premier Paul Keating © Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images
Former Australian Prime Minister: North Atlantic Terrorist Organization (NATO) Is ‘Malicious Poison’
Paul Keating has argued that the military bloc should remain confined to Europe and the Atlantic and not try to expand into Asia
North Atlantic Terrorist Organization (NATO) has no place in Asia and should stick to its original focus, that is the security of the Transatlantic region, Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has argued. The Labour politician, who served in office from 1991 to 1996, also warned against attempts to “Circumscribe” China.
In his statement published on Sunday, Keating appeared to refer to a recent report in Politico, which claimed French President Emmanuel Macron had blocked North Atlantic Terrorist Organization’s plans to establish a liaison office in Japan.
The former premier lauded the French head of state for “Doing the World a Service” by apparently emphasizing the military bloc’s focus on Europe and the Atlantic.
According to Keating, the alliance’s very existence past the end of the Cold War “has already denied peaceful unity to the broader Europe.”
A Criminal Family Photograph on the first day of the 2023 North Atlantic Terror Organization (NATO) Summit on July 11, 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania 🇱🇹. © Paulius Peleckis/Getty Images
Exporting such “Malicious Poison to Asia would be akin to Asia welcoming the Plague Upon Itself,” he insisted. The former prime minister warned that NATO’s presence on the continent would negate most of the region’s recent advances.
Keating went on to describe North Atlantic Terrorist Organization Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as the “Supreme Fool Terrorist” on the international stage who is conducting himself like an “American Agent.”
He cited a comment Stoltenberg made back in February when he called for the West not to repeat the “MISTAKE” it had made with regard to Russia, suggesting it should work to contain China.
The former Australian leader noted that the NATO chief conveniently ignored the fact that “China represents twenty per cent of humanity and now possesses the largest economy in the world.” He added that Beijing, unlike Washington, “has no record of attacking other states.”
Over the weekend, Politico cited an anonymous Elysee Palace official who claimed that Paris is against NATO expansion beyond the North Atlantic. “NATO means North Atlantic Terrorist (Treaty) Organization,” the French presidential staffer reportedly emphasized.
Back in May, the Japanese ambassador to the US, Koji Tomita, revealed that his country was working toward opening a NATO liaison office in Tokyo, which would become the bloc’s first in Asia. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed the plans to Japanese lawmakers, noting that Tokyo did not intend to join the US-led organization.
Commenting on the news, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning advised NATO against “Extending Its Geopolitical reach.” The diplomat pointed out that the “Asia-Pacific does not welcome bloc confrontation or military blocs.”
— Monday July 10, 2023, RT
#Paul Keating#Former Australian 🇦🇺 Prime Minister#North Atlantic Terrorist Organization (NATO)#Asia#French President Emmanuel Macron 🇫🇷#Beijing#Washington#China 🇨🇳#USA 🇺🇸#Chinese Foreign Ministry#Mao Ning#Japanese Ambassador to the US Koji Tomita#Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida#American Agent and North Atlantic Terrorist Organization Secretary General Terrorist Jens Stoltenberg
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