The Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen was considered a promising candidate for the top office. However, statements before the US Congress could have become a problem for her.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen apparently failed in the race to succeed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg because of statements made during her visit to Washington DC in June. “Prime Minister Frederiksen took herself out of the discussion with members of Congress,” reported the “Welt” (Monday edition), citing informed NATO diplomats.
“Frederiksen said a lot of right things about Ukraine,” the insider said. The Danish Prime Minister has also put the topics “LBQT and climate protection at the top of her agenda for NATO”. Conservative members of Congress were particularly displeased by this, which is why they rejected Frederiksen as the new head of NATO. According to the information, it should be announced at the end of this year that the Dane should receive the office.
Stoltenberg’s term extended to October 2024
At the same time, according to the report, Germany and France have been pushing in recent weeks to no longer decide on NATO personnel before the European elections in June 2024. This means that the appointment should only be made in close coordination with the allocation of top political offices in the EU.
According to the “Welt”, this is also the reason why Stoltenberg’s term of office will not only be extended to July 31, 2024, but to October 31, 2024.
According to the newspaper report, the social-democratic Prime Minister of Portugal, António Luís Santos da Costa, is currently being mentioned in NATO circles as a promising contender for the post of NATO chief. But it was “still too early” for decisions to be made. The US government also continues to favor a woman for the post.
