On Monday, President Joe Biden will host outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House for discussions, while the competition to find Stoltenberg’s successor to lead the military alliance gains momentum.

Stoltenberg, who has been at the helm of NATO since 2014, with his tenure extended three times, announced earlier this year that he would step down when his current term expires at the end of September.

As leaders of the 31-member military alliance prepare to gather for their annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania next month, the race to find his replacement is heating up, the Associated Press reported.

Last week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak advocated for U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace directly to President Biden.

The U.S. president also met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who is also considered a potential contender.

When asked about the NATO position during a joint news conference with Prime Minister Sunak, President Biden acknowledged Wallace’s qualifications but emphasized that the discussion among NATO leaders to reach a “consensus” on Stoltenberg’s successor is still ongoing.

Given that the United States invests more in defense than any other member of the alliance, President Biden’s perspective carries significant weight.

Written by staff