Olaf Scholz blocked Ursula von der Leyen from becoming the new head of NATO because he believed she would be too tough on Russia, German media reported.
The German chancellor, who has faced criticism for his cautious approach to diplomacy with Vladimir Putin, reportedly told Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, that he was against the appointment.
“Scholz was categorically against von der Leyen becoming NATO head,” German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported, citing officials in Brussels and European diplomats.
Von der Leyen had been too critical of Putin, and this could “prove to be a disadvantage in the long term” in the view of Scholz, the sources added.
Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, is due to step down from the role in October, having extended his tenure three times.
The name of von der Leyen, a former German defence minister who is currently the European Commission president, has been floated as one potential successor.
Another is Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, whose chances of receiving the role had increased due to Mr Scholz’s opposition to Ms von der Leyen, Welt am Sonntag reported.
Rutte is said to be keen on the role, but has tried to play down his enthusiasm for the job in recent weeks. “After 13 years in this job you still make mistakes,” he told students at a school in Berlin last December. “And the mistake was that I spoke about a possible shift for me, to secretary-general, and I’m absolutely not sure whether it will happen.”
Ben Wallace, the former UK defence secretary, is also being discussed in NATO circles as a potential candidate to succeed Mr Stoltenberg, along with Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister.
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