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| Andrej Plenković |
Reports suggest that the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg's term is set to expire on
September 30, and a leader from the Balkans may be selected to take his place.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic is considered a serious contender for the position.
The new Secretary General will be announced during the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11 and 12. The Swedish newspapers "Aftonbladet" and "Svenska Dagbladet" have also speculated on the potential candidates for the position.
The neglected Eastern and Central European and Balkan countries have opened up opportunities for candidates such as Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Kalas, and Andrej Plenkovic.
However, Iohannis' term expires in November 2024, and Kalas is viewed as too hostile toward Russia. This leaves Plenkovic in an advantageous position.
Other candidates include Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, and Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Analena Berbock, although having two Germans in leadership positions for NATO and the EU may not be accepted by allies.