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What game is German Chancellor Olaf Scholz playing?
Olaf Scholz has blocked the candidacy of Ursula von der Leyen as head of NATO "because she would be too tough with Russia"
This news was reported by some German media, as they revealed details of how Scholz prevented the current head of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen from becoming the new head of NATO.
According to reports, the reason is that she is very critical of Russia. At least this is what some senior officials from Brussels and some senior European diplomats have stated, according to the Welt am Sonntag report.
According to the report, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken suggested Von der Leyen as the running mate of US President Joe Biden.
Biden then approached Scholz and asked for his consent.
But Scholz refused.
"Scholz was categorically against Ursula von der Leyen becoming head of NATO," Welt am Sontag quoted people familiar with the matter as saying.
The German chancellor was categorically against her becoming NATO secretary general, reports Welt am Sonntag.
The position was said to be too important for SPD Chancellor Scholz to hand over to the rival CDU party, the paper said. In contrast, from Olaf Scholz's point of view, the office of the head of the Commission is significantly less important on the international stage, according to insiders.
Diplomats also reported that, from Scholz's point of view, von der Leyen was too critical of Moscow, which could prove problematic in the long run after a possible ceasefire in the Ukraine war.
CDU defense expert Roderich Kiesewetter told the VELT TV channel that Scholz prevented Von der Leyen from becoming NATO chief because, unlike the chancellor, she really wanted Ukraine to join NATO.
Scholz is doing "everything to please Putin", claims Kiesewetter. However, it is debatable whether Ursula von der Leyen would want to hold the post.
An April 2023 report in The Sun newspaper said Britain could also veto Ms von de Leyen for the role, citing her poor performance as German defense minister in Angela Merkel's cabinet.
During her tenure as defense minister from 2013 to 2019, she faced frequent criticism for her heavy reliance on the use of outside consultants and gaps in the German military's military readiness.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced major reforms and increased spending on the German armed forces, which are overseen by Boris Pistorius, the defense minister. He has vowed to make the nation "ready for war", amid concerns that Russia could attack a NATO member state within the next three years.
Ben Wallace, the former defense secretary of the United Kingdom, is also being discussed in NATO circles as a possible candidate to succeed Stoltenberg, along with Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister./ Pamphlet
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