Olaf Scholz (right) and Ursula von der Leyen (left) early this month during consultations between European leaders in Brussels. — © AFP
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz blocked the appointment of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as NATO Secretary General at the end of last year. The German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reports this based on several senior EU officials and top diplomats.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is said to have submitted her nomination to President Joe Biden. Scholz spoke to him about the idea, but the German Chancellor would not be in favor of that plan. According to the SPD politician, the position is too important to be left to a German Christian Democrat. In his opinion, his compatriot is also too critical of Moscow, which could be a disadvantage in the long term.
Von der Leyen has recently spoken out regularly about the war in Ukraine and the battle in the Gaza Strip. The fact that she speaks out on foreign policy irritates EU Council President Charles Michel and EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell.
Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s chances of becoming the new NATO boss are increasing, the German newspaper writes. More than twenty countries have already expressed their support for him and a few more are likely to follow after the Munich Security Conference this weekend.